\n Kidcity is an artist-created space for hands-on imaginati
on play for kids ages 1 to 8 and their favorite grownups. &nbsp\;Free admi
ssion on the Third Thursday Evening of every month from 5 to 7 pm. (Regula
r admission $8)

This program helps caregivers and young children discover
art together in the Museum. Listen to a story and then explore line\, sha
pe\, color\, and other elements of art with teaching artist Margaret Freed
man. Margaret has a Master&rsquo\;s degree in Elementary Education and tea
ches at the Noah Webster House\, here at the New Britain Museum of America
n Art\, and in pre-K through 8th grade classrooms of the Waterbury School
District. She combines literacy with various artistic media and develops i
nnovative programs that enhance the young child&rsquo\;s experience here a
t the Museum.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

If you have any questions or wan
t to sign up\, contact Katy Matsuzaki at matsuzakik@nbmaa.org or at (860)
229-0257\, ext. 220.

\n WEST HARTFORD\, CT &ndash\; Playhouse on Park is seeking
families to host actors from New York during its 2014-15 Season. Length of
time varies: a stay is 6 weeks on average\, but can range from several da
ys to 10 weeks. Actors require a private bedroom and access to a bathroom
and kitchen. Hosts may volunteer yearly or as often as they desire. To lea
rn more about this enriching experience\, call the Playhouse at (860) 523-
5900 ext. 10 or contact Tracy Flater\, Executive Director\, at tflater@pla
yhousetheatregroup.org.

Drop-i
n students are welcome\n (Scholarships are available for New Britain
students.) \nNo charge for chaperones\, who must remain in the buil
ding

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Students learn to express their
creativity using varied art methods and materials to create personal works
of art. New themes will be explored each month with different projects we
ekly.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Artist Suzy Jorsey Balay leads Art Explo
rers. Suzy is a fiber artist who hand spins wool\, knits and sews and had
received her BFA from Paier College of Art. She has been a dedicated teach
er of Art Explorers for a number of years and continues to create inspirin
g lessons for children.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

If you have any questi
ons or want to sign up\, contact Katy Matsuzaki at matsuzakik@nbmaa.org or
at (860) 229-0257\, ext. 220.

Students learn to express their creativity using varied art
methods and materials to create personal works of art. New themes will be
explored each month with different projects weekly.

\n\n

Artist Suzy
Jorsey Balay leads Art Explorers. Suzy is a fiber artist who hand spins wo
ol\, knits and sews and had received her BFA from Paier College of Art. Sh
e has been a dedicated teacher of Art Explorers for a number of years and
continues to create inspiring lessons for children.

This program helps caregivers and young children discover ar
t together in the Museum. Listen to a story and then explore line\, shape\
, color\, and other elements of art with teaching artist Margaret Freedman
. Margaret has a Master&rsquo\;s degree in Elementary Education and teache
s at the Noah Webster House\, here at the New Britain Museum of American A
rt\, and in pre-K through 8th grade classrooms of the Waterbury School Dis
trict. She combines literacy with various artistic media and develops inno
vative programs that enhance the young child&rsquo\;s experience here at t
he Museum.

\n On the 2nd Saturday of every month\, from 8:30am to 12:30
pm\, in the library of Southport Congregational Church in Southport\, WIFE
.org presents A Divorce Workshop for Women. &nbsp\;Our next workshop is Se
ptember 13th. This nationally acclaimed workshop was created 25 years ago
by the founders of WIFE.org\, a non-profit financial literacy group.&nbsp\
;

\n

\n Titled &ldquo\;Second Saturday&rdquo\;\, this is a 4 hour wor
kshop designed to help participants explore the legal\, financial and emot
ional issues of divorce and gain a greater understanding of the process.&n
bsp\; The workshop has 3 segments that are led by a family law attorney\,
a certified divorce financial analyst and Certified Financial Planner (CFP
&reg\;)\, and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.&nbsp\; There is a
$35 fee but the information is priceless.

\n

\n Second Saturday provi
des a great opportunity for women to acquire non-biased\, straight-forward
information and options to help them focus on what they need to do legall
y and financially through this difficult time.&nbsp\; The workshop can als
o save time\, grief and money.

Homeschool Days ar
e learning experiences designed exclusively for homeschool families. Join
us before the Museum opens to the public to explore the galleries with one
of our knowledgeable docents. Each dynamic\, interactive tour will end in
our bright and spacious Art Studio\, where students will engage in a hand
s-on project related to the theme of the day. Homeschool Days are designed
with a school aged audience in mind\, and families with young children ar
e encouraged to make use of books\, games\, and self-guided art projects i
n the Family ArtLab while registered students take part in the day&rsquo\;
s activities. Space is limited to 30 students\, and pre-registration is re
quired. Payment is due at time of preregistration.

\n\n

To pre-regist
er or for more information\, please contact Katy\, Coordinator of School &
amp\; Family Programs\, at matsuzakik@nbmaa.org or (860) 229-0257\, ext. 2
20.

\n WEST HARTFORD\, CT- Local professional theatre Playhouse
on Park is offering discounted tickets for groups of ten or more. This is
a wonderful group outing opportunity for all kinds of organizations. The g
roup size ranges from as little as 10 seats to filling the whole house\, a
ll 163 seats. For groups of 10 or more\, save 10% off of the regular ticke
t price and one complimentary ticket for the coordinator. For groups of 20
or more\, save 20% off the regular ticket price and two complimentary tic
kets for the coordinator. Arrangements can also be made for optional pre a
nd/or post show receptions. All groups are welcome and encouraged to reser
ve early.

\n

\n &nbsp\;

\n

\n Playhouse on Park is Hartford Coun
ty&rsquo\;s most affordable and intimate professional theatre that is nest
led on Park Road in West Hartford where parking is free\, the actors are r
ight off Broadway\, and the back row is just four seats from the stage. Th
ey are beginning their sixth season on October 1st\, opening with Ange
ls in America: Part 1: Millennium Continues. A complete listing of sh
ows can be found on our website. Tickets are on sale now and can be purcha
sed in person\, over the phone\, or online. Subscribe to the entire Main S
tage Season and save 20% over individual ticket prices plus receive subscr
iber benefits.

\n

\n &nbsp\;

\n

\n For more information to reser
ve your group outing early\, to become a main stage series subscriber\, or
to purchase tickets\, call the box office at 860-523-5900 x10 or visit ww
w.playhouseonpark.org. To inquire about purchasing an entire show (the who
le theatre)\, please contact Executive Director\, Tracy Flater\, at (860)
523-5900 x12 or tflater@playhousetheatregroup.org. Playhouse on Park is lo
cated at 244 Park Road\, West Hartford\, CT 06119.

\n WEST HARTFORD\, CT &ndash\; Playhouse on Park is seeking
dependable\, friendly volunteer ushers for its upcoming 2014-15 Season. Re
sponsibilities include taking tickets\, greeting patrons and escorting the
m to their seats\, selling concessions\, and cleaning before and after the
show. There is a dress code. Ushers are usually needed once per month or
per performance\, or as often as they desire. To learn more\, contact the
Playhouse at (860) 523-5900 ext. 10 or email info@playhouseonpark.org.

This is a meditation group for the beginner or advanced medi
tator\, who wants to take a break during their lunch hour and recharge and
relax. Instruction will be given on mindfulness meditation\, followed by
silent meditation and time for questions at the end of the session. The me
ditation technique we'\;ll be practicing is called &quot\;shamata&quot\
; which translates as &quot\;peaceful abiding&quot\;. This style of medita
tion tames the mind and develops its strength\, clarity\, stability and co
mpassion. Over time\, this technique allows the mind to settle and and not
chase after every emotion and thought that pops up. The results are profo
und. If you would like to experience more peace in your life\, please join
us! Cost is $10.

If you can walk\, you ca
n line dance!&nbsp\; Professional and patient instructor...not just countr
y - we dance to all genres of music.&nbsp\; No partner required!!&nbsp\; G
reat exercise for both the body and the mind....all levels\, beginners ALW
AYS welcome\, come early:

Learn how to line dance!!&nbsp\; If you can walk\, you can l
ine dance - beginners always welcome!&nbsp\; Learn some new dances\, revie
w some old dances in a relaxed\, casual setting.&nbsp\; Awesome 1200 squar
e foot wood dance floor\, state of the art pool tables for your non-dancin
g friends.&nbsp\; All genres of music\, not just country...professional an
d patient dance instructor....cash bar\, free pizza!&nbsp\; Great exercise
\, great friends\, great fun!!

For a truly unique and memorable venue\, host your event or meeting on
the picturesque 118-acre former estate of Henri Bendel.

\n\n

With a w
orking farm\, handicapped accessible woodland trails\, observatory\, inter
active art gallery and planetarium\, the Stamford Museum &amp\; Nature Cen
ter is the ideal spot for your next company outing\, off-site meeting or p
rivate event. To learn more about having an event at the SM&amp\;NC visit
www.stamfordmuseum.org\, call Cate Carlucci 203.977.6523 or email ccarlucc
i@stamfordmuseum.org

\n\n

* * * * Stamford Museum &amp\;
Nature Center is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of art\,
the natural and agricultural sciences\, and history. The Museum is a vita
l cultural and educational resource for the community\, and a focal point
for family activity through exhibitions\, educational programs and special
events.

The New Canaan historical Society opened its latest costume
exhibit\, As We Were\, featuring the fashions of our founding yea
r\, 1889. The exhibit connects two historical events\, the first meeting t
o found the Historical Society and the wedding of two prominent founders\,
Edna Hoyt Rogers and Henry Benjamin Rogers.

FREE Zumba&reg\;&nbsp\;Kids Classes Save the Dates for 2015:
We are getting our dancing kicks ready.&nbsp\; Perfect way to enable kids
and parents to have fun working toward their fitness goals together.

Dreamless\, Unalive\, Perfect&n
bsp\;is&nbsp\;the first solo exhibition of photographs by Danbury resident
William Frucht.&nbsp\;The 12 black-and-white landscape photographs in the
show&nbsp\;find beauty in decay of manmade objects and their reclamation
by nature. In his artist&rsquo\;s statement\, he says\, &ldquo\;Over time\
, the things we&nbsp\;discard and forget have grown larger and more comple
x. Once it was stone arrowheads\, now it is houses\, stores and factories.
These things\, once abandoned\, immediately begin to vanish as nature beg
ins the slow work of taking&nbsp\;them back.&hellip\; I am less interested
in what people took away from these places than in what they left behind\
, and what happened to it.&rdquo\;

The exhibition features thirty-four works that display a mas
tery of the highly realistic\, trompe l&rsquo\;oeil technique in
curious compositions of currency\, letters\, and other symbolic items that
make reference to political\, economic and social issues facing America\,
and Otis Kaye personally\, during the first half of the twentieth-century
. More puzzling than Kaye&rsquo\;s work\, which is steeped in mystery and
symbolism\, is the enigma that surrounds the artist himself. The record of
Kaye&rsquo\;s life is nearly non-existent. The artist did not exhibit or
sell his work during his lifetime\, but gave his art to close family and f
riends. Through this exhibition\, our visitors will have the opportunity t
o investigate this intriguing artist and help answer some of the remaining
questions about his life and work.

\n\n

The works featured in this r
etrospective are some of Kaye&rsquo\;s finest\, generously loaned from var
ious private collections and the Otis Kaye Estate and Trust. The Museum is
thankful to the many private collectors\, including Ron Cordover\, Walter
and Lucille Rubin\, Richard Manoogian\, Frank Hevrdejs\, the Board of Gov
ernors of the Federal Reserve System\, and the Sheldon Museum\, University
of Nebraska for their loans to this exhibition. In addition\, Ron Cordove
r&rsquo\;s generous contribution through the Cordover Family Foundation ha
s allowed us to publish the first monograph on Kaye with contributions by
James M. Bradburne\, Mark D. Mitchell\, and Geraldine Banks\, which are in
cluded in the fully illustrated\, 188-page catalogue\, Otis Kaye: Mone
y\, Mastery\, and Mystery. Additional funding has been received from
the David T. Langrock Foundation\, which has supported several of the New
Britain Museum of American Art&rsquo\;s important scholarly monographs.

The exhibition features thirty-four works that display a mas
tery of the highly realistic\, trompe l&rsquo\;oeil technique in
curious compositions of currency\, letters\, and other symbolic items that
make reference to political\, economic and social issues facing America\,
and Otis Kaye personally\, during the first half of the twentieth-century
. More puzzling than Kaye&rsquo\;s work\, which is steeped in mystery and
symbolism\, is the enigma that surrounds the artist himself. The record of
Kaye&rsquo\;s life is nearly non-existent. The artist did not exhibit or
sell his work during his lifetime\, but gave his art to close family and f
riends. Through this exhibition\, our visitors will have the opportunity t
o investigate this intriguing artist and help answer some of the remaining
questions about his life and work.

\n\n

The works featured in this r
etrospective are some of Kaye&rsquo\;s finest\, generously loaned from var
ious private collections and the Otis Kaye Estate and Trust. The Museum is
thankful to the many private collectors\, including Ron Cordover\, Walter
and Lucille Rubin\, Richard Manoogian\, Frank Hevrdejs\, the Board of Gov
ernors of the Federal Reserve System\, and the Sheldon Museum\, University
of Nebraska for their loans to this exhibition. In addition\, Ron Cordove
r&rsquo\;s generous contribution through the Cordover Family Foundation ha
s allowed us to publish the first monograph on Kaye with contributions by
James M. Bradburne\, Mark D. Mitchell\, and Geraldine Banks\, which are in
cluded in the fully illustrated\, 188-page catalogue\, Otis Kaye: Mone
y\, Mastery\, and Mystery. Additional funding has been received from
the David T. Langrock Foundation\, which has supported several of the New
Britain Museum of American Art&rsquo\;s important scholarly monographs.

February and March are prime viewing for&nbsp\;vis
iting eagles and other birds wintering along the lower Connecticut River V
alley. Bring your camera and binoculars and climb aboard Project Oceanolog
y&rsquo\;s Enviro Lab III for a cruise and discover the beauty of the Rive
r in winter. &nbsp\;The EagleWatch season also includes the Eagles of Esse
x exhibit at the museum and programs and activities.

\n\n

J
anuary 30: First day for EagleWatch and Winter Wildlife Boat Cruises

This winter\, the New Britain Museum of American Art proudly
showcases the Hamm&rsquo\;s labor of love in the exhibition\, Over Li
fe'\;s Waters: The Coastal Art Collection of Charles and Irene Hamm. Ninety-three of the Hamm&rsquo\;s American coastal collection will be o
n view\, including works by noted artists Thomas Hart Benton (1889&ndash\;
1975)\, William Braford (1823&ndash\;1892)\, William Partridge Burpee (184
6&ndash\;1940)\, Sears Gallagher (1869&ndash\;1955)\, Rockwell Kent (1882&
ndash\;1971)\, and Paul Pollaro (b. 1921). The exhibition will highlight s
everal scenic seascapes including Old Mystic\, Connecticut\, Swampscott\,
Massachusetts\, Monhegan\, Maine\, and New York Harbor.

\n\n

As avid
sailors and marine enthusiasts\, each coastal work in the collection and e
xhibition has been handpicked by the Hamms. When forming their collection\
, the couple opted to collect works by American painters\, alive or dead\,
in any medium that attracted their eyes and emotions. Together\, the Hamm
s have sailed along several continents and have enjoyed cruising the New E
ngland and Northwest coasts. Their Connecticut residence on the Long Islan
d Sound has been designed to display their coastal art collection and maxi
mize their views and sense of the water.

\n\n

Over Life'\;s Wa
ters: The Coastal Art Collection of Charles and Irene Hamm will allow
visitors an opportunity to grasp the fundamental significance of coastal
waters and how the Atlantic has shaped America. The Hamms have generously
gifted the Museum their entire coastal art collection\, consisting of 165
paintings\, and $1 million to the Art and Education Expansion Project. The
Charles and Irene Hamm Gallery will be constructed in the new wing\, set
to open in the fall of 2015\, and paintings from the Hamm Collection will
be installed throughout the galleries. The Museum is profoundly thankful t
o Charles and Irene Hamm for their extreme generosity and thoughtfulness.<
/p>\n\n\nPhone: 860-229-0257\n\n56 Lexington Street\nNew Britain\, CT\n060
52\n\n
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20150131
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20150412
LOCATION:New Britain Museum of American Art
PRIORITY:
SUMMARY:EXHIBITION: Over Life’s Waters: The Coastal Art Collection of Charl
es and Irene Hamm
URL:http://www.nbmaa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:19210_20@www.connecticutmag.com
DTSTAMP:20150303T200325Z
CATEGORIES:ART
DESCRIPTION:

This winter\, the New Britain Museum of American Art proudly
showcases the Hamm&rsquo\;s labor of love in the exhibition\, Over Li
fe'\;s Waters: The Coastal Art Collection of Charles and Irene Hamm. Ninety-three of the Hamm&rsquo\;s American coastal collection will be o
n view\, including works by noted artists Thomas Hart Benton (1889&ndash\;
1975)\, William Braford (1823&ndash\;1892)\, William Partridge Burpee (184
6&ndash\;1940)\, Sears Gallagher (1869&ndash\;1955)\, Rockwell Kent (1882&
ndash\;1971)\, and Paul Pollaro (b. 1921). The exhibition will highlight s
everal scenic seascapes including Old Mystic\, Connecticut\, Swampscott\,
Massachusetts\, Monhegan\, Maine\, and New York Harbor.

\n\n

As avid
sailors and marine enthusiasts\, each coastal work in the collection and e
xhibition has been handpicked by the Hamms. When forming their collection\
, the couple opted to collect works by American painters\, alive or dead\,
in any medium that attracted their eyes and emotions. Together\, the Hamm
s have sailed along several continents and have enjoyed cruising the New E
ngland and Northwest coasts. Their Connecticut residence on the Long Islan
d Sound has been designed to display their coastal art collection and maxi
mize their views and sense of the water.

\n\n

Over Life'\;s Wa
ters: The Coastal Art Collection of Charles and Irene Hamm will allow
visitors an opportunity to grasp the fundamental significance of coastal
waters and how the Atlantic has shaped America. The Hamms have generously
gifted the Museum their entire coastal art collection\, consisting of 165
paintings\, and $1 million to the Art and Education Expansion Project. The
Charles and Irene Hamm Gallery will be constructed in the new wing\, set
to open in the fall of 2015\, and paintings from the Hamm Collection will
be installed throughout the galleries. The Museum is profoundly thankful t
o Charles and Irene Hamm for their extreme generosity and thoughtfulness.<
/p>\n\n\n56 Lexington Street\nNew Britain\, CT\n06052\n\n
DTSTART:20150131T110000
DTEND:20150412T170000
LOCATION:New Britain Museum of American Art
PRIORITY:
SUMMARY:Over Life’s Waters: The Coastal Art Collection of Charles and Irene
Hamm
URL:http://www.connecticutmag.com/Connecticut-Magazine/Calendar/?view=view_
event&itm=19210
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:19315_20@www.connecticutmag.com
DTSTAMP:20150303T200325Z
CATEGORIES:ART
CONTACT:Andrew Chatfield
DESCRIPTION:

&ldquo\;A Body in Fukushima&rdquo\; is a haunting series of color photog
raphs and videos presented in a groundbreaking exhibition across all three
of Wesleyan&rsquo\;s galleries. Last year\, dancer-choreographer Eiko Ota
ke and photographer-historian William Johnston followed abandoned train tr
acks through desolate stations into eerily vacant towns and fields in Fuku
shima\, Japan. Following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami\, the explosions
of the Daiichi nuclear plant made the area uninhabitable. Sometimes in vul
nerable gestures and at other times in a fierce dance\, Ms. Otake embodies
grief\, anger\, and remorse. Mr. Johnston&rsquo\;s crystalline images cap
ture her with the cries of the Fukushima landscapes. &ldquo\;By placing my
body in these places\,&rdquo\; she says\, &ldquo\;I thought of the genera
tions of people who used to live there. I danced so as not to forget.&rdqu
o\; A project of witness\, remembrance\, and empathy\, &ldquo\;A Body in F
ukushima&rdquo\; grapples with the reality of human failure. As Mr. Johnst
on writes\, &ldquo\;By witnessing events and places\, we actually change t
hem and ourselves in ways that may not always be apparent but are importan
t.&rdquo\;

\n\n

William Johnston is Professor of History and East Asi
an Studies at Wesleyan\, and Eiko Otake is Visiting Artist in the Dance De
partment and the College of East Asian Studies.

The St. Pad
dy'\;s Day concert pairs the Festival Chorus with the Jubilate Ringers\
, Music on the Hill'\;s 5-octave handbell choir. &nbsp\;The groups last
performed a sold-out &quot\;Sounds of the Season&quot\; Christmas concert
in Wilton in December.

\n\n

The March concert marks the start of the
Spring 2015 season. &nbsp\;More music follows in April with a Spring Ring
\, an open music reading session for handbell players. &nbsp\;In May\, the
professional-level Chamber Chorus performs &quot\;Music of Shakespeare&qu
ot\; at the Pequot Library in Southport.

\n\n

To learn about particip
ating in Music on the Hill workshops and ensembles\, or to receive concert
updates\, join the mailing list by visiting the website.&nbsp\;

&nbsp\;&ldquo\;Ear Candy&rdquo\;: An Earring Show at Wesleya
n Potters Gallery/Shop\, February 4 &ndash\; March 15\, with work by twent
y-six jewelers who have created a innovative assortment of earrings. This
show will feature one of a kind pairs of &ldquo\;ear candy.&rdquo\; If you
are looking for a gift for your Valentine\, or for someone equally sweet\
, the Wesleyan Potters Gallery/Shop staff will help you find the perfect h
andmade gift to fit your style and budget.

For a musica
l twist on &ldquo\;Ear Candy&rdquo\;\, our opening reception will feature
live music\, members from the Chester-based Bluegrass-style trio ARROW
HEAD featuring guitarist Matt Gyorog on vocals and Guitar and Leif Ni
lsson on Banjo.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;

Come aboard\, enjoy winter while experiencing the beauty and
solitude of the lower Connecticut River\, home to migrating and resident
Bald Eagles\, and other wintering wildlife. This cruise is offered in conj
unction with CT Audubon\, EcoTravel Division. A naturalist will talk about
eagle biology and ecology\, and point out other wintering birds and wildl
ife seen on our cruise. RiverQuest has a fully enclosed heated cabin\, eno
ugh to take the chill off\, but\, dress warm because you will want to be o
utside for most of the journey observing our wintering wildlife up close.
Due to the length of this cruise\, no children under 10 years old please.
Due to the popularity of our Eagle Cruises\, reservations are required. To
make a reservation\, please use our on-line booking. There is lots more i
nformation on these cruises under our Special Cruises page. If you have a
question\, please e-mail\, use the &quot\;E-mail Us&quot\; button on each
of our pages. Cost is $40 for all passengers. Look forward to seeing you a
board.

This 2 1/2 hour program begins with a 20 minute multi-media
presentation about one of America'\;s favorite marine mammals\, the sea
l. After the presentation\, participants board the Enviro-lab and travel t
o popular winter seal haunts. The seals are actually Maine natives who mak
e Long Island Sound their winter destination. The cabin on the boat is hea
ted.&nbsp\;

The WCSU Department of Art will host a gallery opening for t
he &quot\;100@100 Exhibition&quot\; in the Art Gallery at the Visual and P
erforming Arts Center on the university'\;s Westside campus\, 43 Lake A
ve. Extension in Danbury. The opening will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday
\, Feb. 5\, at which time attendees can preview 100 works of art by 100 ar
tists\, to be sold for $100 each at the &quot\;Off-the-Wall&quot\; fundrai
sing event on Saturday\, March 7. The artwork will remain on view during g
allery hours (noon to 4 p.m.\, Monday through Thursday\, and 1 to 4 p.m.\,
Saturday and Sunday) through Thursday\, March 5. The bidding event will b
e from 4 to 7 p.m. on March 7. Ticket prices vary\; for ticket information
\, call (203) 837-8403. Ticket sales support the Department of Art Gallery
Exhibitions program.

The chroma of a color is a measure of how pure or intense it
is\, how saturated the color is. You reduce the chroma of a paint color b
y adding a neutral gray with the identical value as the color you want to
change. In art\, color can depict the natural world or express inner feeli
ngs of the artist. It can also be used in a separate scientific way of vis
ual exploration. This exhibition explores some of the ways artist&rsquo\;s
use color. At times light and modest\, and at other times intense and viv
id.\n&nbsp\;

New Media artist Catherine Ross frames instances on video th
at often go unnoticed in their original context. Isolating the movements o
f humans and/or objects\, her videos create new sequences that reveal an i
nseparable relationship between motion and sound. In Laugh Track
(2013)\, she recontectualizes film clips of both men and women laughing. T
he result is a mini overture in which laughter reveals an inherent awkward
ness\, a humor that echoes our own vulnerabilities.

\n\n

Catherine Ro
ss'\;s video works have been presented in exhibitions and festivals int
ernationally\, including venues in Brazil\, Finland\, France\, Ireland\, E
ngland\, Canada and the United States. She was award&rdquo\; at the 2006 D
arklight Festival (Dublin\, Ireland).

Katie Torpey is an award-winning Writer / Filmmaker with a M
asters from UCLA Film School. She has worked for numerous studios &amp\; n
etworks\, sold several scripts\, as well as written &amp\; directed for bo
th TV and film. Some of her credits include writing the studio film &ldquo
\;The Perfect Man\,&rdquo\; writing &amp\; directing the award-winning ind
ependent film &quot\;Truth About Kerry\,&rdquo\; directing the self-help o
nline product &ldquo\;Design Your Life\,&rdquo\; and co-creating Eva Longo
ria&rsquo\;s newest TV show (animation).

\n\n

See more at: http://www
.ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/introduction-screenwriting-class-katie-torp
ey#sthash.aPm1Sf4L.dpuf

Kehler Liddell Gallery presents Appearances and Apparitions\
, featuring photographers Mark St. Mary and Alan Shulik\, from Thursday\,
February 19 through Sunday\, March 22\, with an Opening Reception on Sunda
y\, February 22\, 3pm - 6pm. In Appearances and Apparitions\, visitors can
peek through the lens of two distinct photographic styles: the urban patt
erns and textures of Mark St. Mary&rsquo\;s work\, and the haunting landsc
apes by Alan Shulik. In startling juxtaposition\, these photographers capt
ure both the geometry and elegance of our world\, the obvious and the subl
ime. &nbsp\;The Gallery is located at 873 Whalley Avenue in New Haven\, Co
nnecticut. Gallery hours are Thursday through Friday from 11:00am - 4:00pm
: Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am - 4:00pm. It is free and open to the pu
blic. For more information\, visit our website\, www.kehlerliddell.com\, o
r call 203.389.9555.

WORLD PREMIERE from Matthew\, Lopez\, the author of&nbsp\;The Whipping Man&nbsp\;and&nbsp\;Somewhere.&nbsp\;After a personal tragedy\, Jonathan has withdrawn
from the world\, with little social life beyond the men he meets online. W
hen charming\, flighty Claire moves into the apartment upstairs\, she trie
s to coax him out of his shell. They forge a tenuous connection\, but the
past reverberates into the present\, threatening what happiness they&rsquo
\;ve found.

Set in an ordinary hospital room\, Ben Lyons lies dying. Rit
a\, his wife of forty years\, flips through decorating magazines\, plannin
g a living room makeover. It'\;s clear Ben and Rita have been at war fo
r many years\, and that Ben'\;s impending demise has brought no relief.
When they'\;re joined by their children\, Lisa and Curtis\, all effort
s at a pleasant visit or a sentimental goodbye are soon abandoned. Terribl
e secrets and vicious accusations replace sentimental memories. After Curt
is'\;s desperate attempt to make a new connection ends disastrously\, e
ach of THE LYONS take their first tentative steps toward making a new huma
n connection in this intense and comedic tale.

The Hygienic&rsquo\;s Annual Artist in Residence show will o
pen with a reception 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday\, February 21. Join Hygien
ic&rsquo\;s resident artists for a slumber party theme &nbsp\;&ndash\; paj
amas are welcome\, but not mandatory.&nbsp\;

The exhibit will be on vie
w until March 14. Gallery Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thur
sday\, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday\, and noon to 3 p.m. on Sunda
y. Hygienic Art is located at 79 Bank Street\, New London. For more inform
ation\, call (860) 443-8001\, or www.hygienic.org.

Stamford\, CT December 5\, 2014 &ndash\; Working o
n their own &ldquo\;fifteen minutes of fame\,&rdquo\; members of the Loft
Artists Association will bring pop artist Andy Warhol &ldquo\;back to life
&rdquo\; with their personal interpretations from the vast array of art th
at he produced.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Inspired by the collection of prints by Andy Warhol in the permanent
collection of The Stamford Museum &amp\; Nature Center &mdash\; two of wh
ich will be on view at the Opening Reception on February 20 &mdash\; the e
xhibition in the East Gallery will be open from 1 to 4:30 pm from February
21 to March 22.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

&ldquo\;Warhol&rsquo\;s work spanned a variety of styles beyond his famou
s soup cans\,&rdquo\; president Ellen Gordon states. &ldquo\;This show giv
es our members &mdash\; and the public &mdash\; a chance to experience one
genre of his art from the museum&rsquo\;s world-class collection\, as wel
l as to enjoy our own &lsquo\;outside the box&rsquo\; LAA member creations
.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n

&ldquo\;But beyond
that\, we will renew a community collaboration between LAA and SM&amp\;NC
that dates back to the 1970&rsquo\;s &mdash\; reviving an &ldquo\;Uptown-D
owntown&rdquo\; connection that can enrich both our organizations.&rdquo\;

&l
dquo\;Andy Warhol Lives Again&rdquo\; is open Saturdays and Sundays from 1
to 4:30 pm. Admission and parking are free. Handicapped access is availab
le. For directions and more information visit www.loftartists.com or call
203-247-2027.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

The Lo
ft Artists Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to building
connections within Fairfield County&rsquo\;s visual arts community and exp
osing the general public to artists and their work. Their grassroots event
s attract thousands of visitors throughout the tri-state area and have bee
n recognized by funding agencies\, including the Connecticut Commission on
the Arts\, corporate and private sponsors\, the City of Stamford and by v
isitors who return year after year.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Sponsored in part by The City Arts Partners
hip Program Grant\, David Martin\, Mayor\; Louis J. Kuriansky Foundation\,
Harbor Point\, Mosaic Images\, and Wagner Instruments.

Heather Gaudio Fine Art is pleased to prese
nt Jasmina Danowski: Taking in the Obscenery\, to be hel
d February 21ththrough April 11th.&nbsp\; This is Danowski&rsquo\;s first
exhibition with the gallery and will feature her most recent body of work.
&nbsp\; The public is invited to attend a reception for the artist on Satu
rday\, February 28th\, 1-5 pm.

\n\n

Danowski translates personal situ
ational experiences onto canvas and paper\, creating vibrantly harmonious
poetic abstractions that are filled with a richness of color and texture.
&nbsp\;Drawing from memories or associations with places or situations\, s
he starts by dabbing the pigment onto a prepared surface\, allowing the me
dium to respond to the marks she creates:&nbsp\; at times a bevy of paint\
, at others an isolated gestural mark reminiscent of Japanese calligraphy.
&nbsp\;&nbsp\;The colorful compositions then evolve from there\, followin
g the inner stories of what a painting conjures and what her mind responds
to\, very much akin to improvisational jazz.&nbsp\;&nbsp\; Although her i
magery is very nature based\, Danowski masterfully restrains herself from
delving into a fully pictorial vocabulary. Her skill is evident in the dif
ferent mediums she employs\, from oils and inks mixed with hand-made pigme
nts\, to fillers such as wax\, gesso and sand.&nbsp\; She can typically wo
rk on several works simultaneously\, sometimes taking over nine months to
complete a piece.

\n\n

Born in Stuttgart\, Germany\, Danowski receive
d her BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and MFA from Bard College i
n New York.&nbsp\;&nbsp\; She is a twice recipient of the distinguished Po
llock-Krasner Foundation Award and has a notable roster of solo and group
exhibitions.&nbsp\; Her work is widely sought after among private collecto
rs and is included in the Mississippi Museum of Art and the Lauren Rogers
Museum in Mississippi.

\n\n

Heather Gaudio Fine Art
specializes in emerging and established artists\, offering works on paper
photography\, painting\, and sculpture. The gallery offers a full range of
art advisory services\, from forming and maintaining a collection to fram
ing and installation. The focus is on each individual client\, selecting a
rt that best serves his or her vision\, space\, and resources. Offering fi
ve shows per year\, the exhibitions are designed to showcase important tal
ent and provide artwork appealing to a broad range of interests. Gallery h
ours are Tuesday through Saturday\; 11am to 5pm\; and by appointment.

Eleven Ways to Be Happy

\n\n

Ongoin
g Sundays ~ 10-11:30am\nFebruary&nbsp\;22 &ndash\; May 3

\n\n

With Resident Teacher\,&nbsp\;Kadam Eve Arias\n&nbs
p\;

\n\n

Imagine having a peaceful\, clear mind all the time. No matt
er what happens or doesn&rsquo\;t happen\, we move through our world with
clarity\, compassion\, and wisdom. This scenario is completely possible th
rough the practice of meditation. By gaining familiarity with states of mi
nd that lead to happiness and clarity\, we learn to interact moment by mom
ent with a peaceful\, clear mind in our daily life.

\n\n

In this seri
es\, Kadam Eve will teach and guide meditations to cultivate eleven specia
l states of mind that are naturally positive and peaceful. Within these te
achings\, she will also give commentary to Buddha&rsquo\;s Eight Auspiciou
s Symbols\, which symbolize the spiritual path to enlightenment.

\n\n

Relax with tea and conversation after class in
the cafe area.&nbsp\;Drop into any class in this 11 class series.

\n\n<
p>Everyone welcome\, no experience necessary\, just a wish to improve and
enjoy the mind.\n\n

(No class Apr. 26 due to U.S. Festival i
n NY).

\n\n

Bring the kids! Meditation For Children
runs simultaneously once a month.\nNext classes: February 22
\, March 22\, April 19

\n\n

Held at Odiyana
Center\n52 National Dr.\, Glastonbury\, CT.\nClick here for map and directions

February 22\, 2015\nOr
gan Fireworks!\nA performance of famous organ masterworks on St. Joh
n&rsquo\;s Austin organ uplifts you\, with works including the Toccata and
Fugue in D minor of&nbsp\;\nJ. S. Bach\, and the Carillon de Westmi
nster of Louis Vierne\, as well as Handel&rsquo\;s Suite for the Royal Fir
eworks.\n&nbsp\;\nMarch 29\, 2015\nBach to Basics
Great music by the greatest of the&nbsp\;\ngreat composers&hellip\;
on a great organ! &nbsp\;\nBach was the most prolific\, most importa
nt composer of music for the organ. &nbsp\;None of the great music we have
today could exist without his influence. &nbsp\;\nWorks in this con
cert will include the Prelude and Fugue in C Major (9/8).\nApril 26\
, 2015\nMonumental Mendelssohn\nCome to hear why Felix Mendels
sohn could spin a melody like no other. &nbsp\;Works for organ will includ
e his Sonata II and Sonata III\, in addition to the well-known &ldquo\;Mid
-summer Night&rsquo\;s Dream&rdquo\; Wedding March.\n&nbsp\;\n
&nbsp\;\nMay 31\, 2015\nThe Trumpet Shall Sound\nwith Ja
cob Humerick\, trumpet\nThe winning combination of heroic pipe organ
and masterful trumpet playing create a sonic spectacular! Favorites of th
is pairing will be featured\, including Purcell&rsquo\;s Trumpet Voluntary
and Mouret&rsquo\;s Symphonies de Fanfares\, as well as a Memorial Day tr
ibute.\n&nbsp\;\n&nbsp\;\nRecitals are held on the last
Sunday of each month&nbsp\;\nat 12:30 p.m. &nbsp\;Admission is free!
\n&nbsp\;\nScott Lamlein\, organist &nbsp\; &nbsp\; &nbsp\; &n
bsp\; Three-manual Austin Organ\, 1995\n&nbsp\;\n&nbsp\;

The WCSU Department of Theatre Arts wil
l present &quot\;You Can'\;t Take It With You&quot\; in the MainStage T
heatre of the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the university'\;s W
estside campus\, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. Performances will be a
t 7 p.m. on Feb. 25 &amp\; 26\; 8 p.m. on Feb. 27 &amp\; 28 and March 6 &a
mp\; 7\; with 2 p.m. matinees on March 1\, 7 and 8. The play introduces au
diences to the freethinking\, eccentric Sycamore family and the mayhem tha
t ensues when their daughter'\;s fiance brings his conservative\, strai
ght-laced parents to dinner on the wrong night. This Pulitzer Prize-winnin
g\, uproarious family affair is set in pre-depression New York (1936-37)\,
and features comedic fun for the whole family. Directed by guest director
\, John Hickock. To purchase tickets\, call (203) 837-TIXX or visit www.wc
su.edu/tickets. For a complete list of similar SVPA events\, visit www.wcs
u.edu/svpa/events.asp.

Lund&rsquo\;s early career as a stop-motion animator often i
nvolved the process of creating unique characters for animated short films
. Character design is still a passion that has carried over into his paint
ings. Each painting features an angry robot involved in a battle. In some
works\, the viewer can see the enemy they are fighting while in others the
action takes place beyond the picture plane and one is left to imagine th
e charred remains of whatever the robot has annihilated. Lund&rsquo\;s ear
liest influences for his drawings and animations were comics\, science fic
tion\, and fantasy books of the 1970s. It is easy to recognize these influ
ences as well as aspects of animation in his work. These brightly colored\
, action-packed paintings are charged with energy and appear to almost jum
p off the page.

\n\n

Early on\, Lund was encouraged to create. His mo
ther\, also an artist\, would let him into her home studio where he would
draw and paint as well as fashion works out of cardboard and random odds a
nd ends. &ldquo\;Most of my work originates out of a spark of an idea that
I then roll over in my mind. Once I sketch it on paper or my iPad\, it st
arts to grow and develop\,&rdquo\; Lund explains. &ldquo\;My goal is to te
ll intriguing stories that are visually and thematically dynamic. I want t
o capture worlds and events that currently only exist in theory or within
the possibility of science fiction.&rdquo\;

Lund&rsquo\;s early career as a stop-motion animator often i
nvolved the process of creating unique characters for animated short films
. Character design is still a passion that has carried over into his paint
ings. Each painting features an angry robot involved in a battle. In some
works\, the viewer can see the enemy they are fighting while in others the
action takes place beyond the picture plane and one is left to imagine th
e charred remains of whatever the robot has annihilated. Lund&rsquo\;s ear
liest influences for his drawings and animations were comics\, science fic
tion\, and fantasy books of the 1970s. It is easy to recognize these influ
ences as well as aspects of animation in his work. These brightly colored\
, action-packed paintings are charged with energy and appear to almost jum
p off the page.

\n\n

Early on\, Lund was encouraged to create. His mo
ther\, also an artist\, would let him into her home studio where he would
draw and paint as well as fashion works out of cardboard and random odds a
nd ends. &ldquo\;Most of my work originates out of a spark of an idea that
I then roll over in my mind. Once I sketch it on paper or my iPad\, it st
arts to grow and develop\,&rdquo\; Lund explains. &ldquo\;My goal is to te
ll intriguing stories that are visually and thematically dynamic. I want t
o capture worlds and events that currently only exist in theory or within
the possibility of science fiction.&rdquo\;

Grr! March is the
month of monsters at the NBMAA! Join Matt Ryan on a journey through local
artist Karl Lund&rsquo\;s special exhibit\, Angry Robots Liquefied My
Brain. Feast your eyes on his evil robots\, prehistoric sea beasts\,
angry giant squids\, and even a bat-winged flying brain! Unleash your own
creatures in the studio as Matt guides you through his step-by-step proces
s for bringing otherworldly beasts to life. Have fun as you draw your mons
ters into Museum masterpieces and give them a whole new comical life &agra
ve\; la Karl Lund.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Artist-in-Residence
Matt Ryan

\n\n

Matt Ryan is a freelance cartoonist and com
ic book artist whose work spans the comics industry to package design and
advertising. Matt is also the co-founder of Free Lunch Studios in Granby\,
CT\, where he works on freelance projects\, teaches classes\, mentors stu
dents from local schools\, and hosts special art events. Check him out at
http://www.freelunchcomics.com!

This month is
out of this world! Get immersed in the world of pop sci-fi\, inspired by
CT artist and animator\, Karl Lund. Students will come up with scenarios r
evolving around strange combinations of both real and fantasy from squids
attacking airplanes\, to angry robots and psychedelic explosions. This cla
ss is all about unleashing your imagination through sci-fi and challenging
yourself to think creatively.

\n\n

Ages 11-13

\n

Ongoing Wednesdays\, 4-5 p.m.

\n\n

Pre
registration Required

\n\n

Youth Drawing 101 is for young ar
tists looking to hone their drawing skills while learning about the histor
y and practice of art. Each month will focus on a different topic ranging
from Pop Art to architectural space to portraiture to abstraction. Classes
will often take place in the galleries with students working directly fro
m the NBMAA&rsquo\;s collection to strengthen critical thinking and observ
ational skills. All skill levels are welcome.\n&nbsp\;

\n\n

Preregistration is required for each monthly session and cla
ss size is limited. New sessions begin on the first Wednesday of each mont
h. We do offer scholarships for New Britain students\, so please feel free
to ask if you qualify.

The Geary Gallery of Darien proudly presents &ldquo\;Tim
eless: The Paintings of Ray Ellis\,&rdquo\; a celebration of the work
of the late renowned painter and story teller\, Ray Ellis. His exhibit ru
ns March 3 &ndash\; 31. The Geary Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday
\, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.\, 576 Boston Post Road\, Darien\, CT 06820. (203
) 655-6633. www.gearygallery.com

Join Branford writer Jen Payne for a discussion about mindfu
lness in these fast-paced times on Wednesday\, March 4\, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
at Branford High School. Following a trail of readings from her new book\,
LOOK UP! Musings on the Nature of Mindfulness\, Jen will guide participan
ts on a conversation about reconnecting with nature\, the many ways to be
mindful\, and how the simple act of looking up can create more balance in
our lives. Books will be available for purchase the night of class. Class
size is limited to allow for group discussion. Please register through Bra
nford Adult Education (class number B-547) at: https://www.erace-adulted.o
rg/CourseCatalog/CatalogView.asp?ID=54

The public is invited to attend an Ambassadors&rsquo\; Round
table series breakfast presentation by Charlotte Ponticelli on &ldquo\;Women in Afghanistan: Challenges &amp\; Opportunities Post-2014&rdqu
o\;. This event will take place at the Stamford Yacht Club on March 4\, 20
15.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Charlotte M. (Charlie) Ponticelli is an in
ternational and governmental affairs expert currently serving as Program D
irector &amp\; Advisor for the American Committees on Foreign Relations.&n
bsp\; She is also an Adjunct Professor in the Business and Economics Schoo
l at The Catholic University of America.\n\nWith 23 years of U
S Government experience\, Ponticelli began her career on Capitol Hill and
served most recently as the State Department&rsquo\;s Senior Coordinator f
or International Women&rsquo\;s Issues and later as Deputy Under Secretary
for International Labor Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor.

\n\n<
p>Ponticelli has received the State Department&rsquo\;s Superior Honor Awa
rd\, the &ldquo\;Loyalty Award&rdquo\;&nbsp\;from the American Women for I
nternational Understanding\, the &ldquo\;Inspiration Award&rdquo\; from th
e&nbsp\;Foreign Investment&nbsp\;Network and Global Trusted&nbsp\;Alliance
s\, and&nbsp\;the &ldquo\;Afghan &amp\; American Sisterhood Award&rdquo\;
from Ariana Outreach.\n\n

The cost for the breakfast and presentatio
n is free for AR series members\, $30 for Forum members and $50 for the ge
neral public. The event will start at 7:15 A.M. with coffee and networking
followed by a full breakfast buffet at 7:30. The presentation will begin
at 8 A.M. and Ms. Ponticelli will take questions.

\n\n

Reservations a
nd advance payment are required.&nbsp\; Space is limited. Please contact t
he World Affairs Forum at 203-356-0340 or E-mail: info@worldaffairsforum.o
rg to reserve.

\n\n

The World Affairs Forum is a non-profit\, non-par
tisan organization dedicated to expanding understanding of global affairs
and America&rsquo\;s role in the world. The Forum is an affiliate of the W
orld Affairs Councils of America.

The newest show from producer and world-renowned impresario&
nbsp\;Danny Chang&nbsp\;(Artistic Director for the Golden Dragon Acrobats)
\, Cirque Ziva is a fast-paced\, technically innovative and beautifully pr
esented new show. The large cast and spectacular set designs illustrate th
e best of Chang&rsquo\;s brand of artistic merit\, high productive value a
nd sold commitment to cultural exchange.

The March 4 Mid-Day Music program features Ray Nagem\, Organ
. The concert starts at 12:15 p.m. and lasts approximately one-half hour.
The recital is free but donations are gladly accepted. A light lunch follo
ws for a $5 donation.

The exhibit features works by Heide Follin\, a Norwalk-based
fine artist who has won many awards. She has exhibited regionally at the
Rowayton Arts Center\, Loft Artists Association\, Westport Arts Center\, N
ew Canaan Carriage Barn\, UCONN Stamford Gallery\, Art About Town in Westp
ort\, The Drawing Room in Greenwich\, Pequot Library and the Fairfield Art
s Center. Heide graduated from the Worcester Art Museum\, with further stu
dy at The School of Visual Arts\, Silvermine School of Art and the Greenwi
ch Art Society. Additionally\, she draws from her experience and sensibili
ty gleaned in her professional advertising design career.

\n\n

COLOR influenced by emotion\, not bound by the expected. NATURE invites
vibrant expression in a variety of techniques. With vibrant color
as her passion and nature as her subject\, Heide Follin infuses her paint
ings with inventive expression. Her award-winning work evokes the joyful i
ntimacy of natural objects and landscape interpreted in a variety of mediu
m. Techniques include spontaneous brush work\, free-form drawing\, lyrical
Japanese brush strokes\, scraping\, scratching\, dripping\, and precise a
reas for contrast while building up layers.

\n\n

The opening receptio
n\, which includes light refreshments\, is on Wednesday\, March 4\, from 6
:30 to 8 p.m. The exhibit is held at the ARTWorks Gallery on the Green loc
ated at St. Paul&rsquo\;s on the Green\, 60 East Avenue\, Norwalk\, CT 068
51. For additional information\, contact events@seaburynorwalk.org.

Join lecturer Fred Biamonte as he discusses the interesting
lives and paintings of Fitz Henry Lane\, Frederic Edwin Church\, William T
rost Richards\, Winslow Homer\, and Robert Henri. All of these artists pai
nted coastal scenes of the eastern United States from the middle of the 19
th century through the beginning of the 20th century.

A guest speaker from the Connecticut Women'\;s Hall of Fa
me will present a multi-media program on some of Connecticut'\;s remark
able women. The discussion will highlight Connecticut women'\;s contrib
utions to such fields as the arts and sciences\, politics\, and sports. So
me of the women who may be discussed include Ella Grasso\, Katharine Hepbu
rn\, Marian Anderson\, and Hannah Watson.

Al Sokaitis\, Post University&rsquo\;s Men&rsquo\;
s Basketball Coach and Motivational Speaker\, will present his lecture
&ldquo\;Excellence is a Lifestyle&rdquo\; on Wednesday\, March 4\, 2015\,
at 6 p.m.\, in MacDermid Hall on Post University&rsquo\;s Waterbur
y campus at 800 Country Club Road.&nbsp\; The talk is free and open to the
public.&nbsp\; Seating is limited\, and reservations are necessary via em
ail (125@post.edu) or phone (203.591.7360).&nbsp\; This lecture is
presented in conjunction with Post University&rsquo\;s College Success Sem
inar and Career &amp\; Self-Awareness Program.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;

\n

&ldquo\;Excellence is a Lifestyle\,&rdquo\; is a presentation that focu
ses on\, &ldquo\;Not what you do\, but the excellence of what you do.&rdqu
o\; &nbsp\;The lecture will feature numerous examples from the world of bu
siness\, sports and everyday life to demonstrate how an individual can ach
ieve better health\, opportunities for employment and a better future by l
earning the meaning of excellence.

\n\n

The talk is the third in a se
ries of free weeknight lectures to be presented by Post February through M
ay 2015\, as part of the University&rsquo\;s 125th Anniversary celebrat
ion. &nbsp\;Featuring local and nationally recognized experts in the f
ields of Climate Change\, Emergency Management\, Sports Medicine\, Crimina
l Justice\, Motivational Speaking\, College Financial Planning\, Digital L
earning\, and Banking and Finance\, the series aims to broadly share with
the Greater Waterbury community the thought leadership showcased within th
e rich educational offerings of Post University.

George Thorogood &amp\; The Destroyer
s are Badder Than Ever!&nbsp\; For George and his longtime band &ndash\; J
eff Simon (drums\, percussion)\, Bill Blough (bass guitar)\, Jim Suhler (r
hythm guitar) and Buddy Leach (saxophone) &ndash\; their new Badder Than E
ver Tour is indestructible proof that staying true to yourself and the mus
ic can still mean something.

\n\n

Visit our website for more informat
ion and to purchase tickets&nbsp\;http://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/geo
rge-thorogood-and-destroyers#sthash.Y1OXVePC.dpuf

The Al Fenton Big Band performs at the Marco Polo Restaurant
in East Hartford the first Thursday of every month. &nbsp\;For &quot\;sof
t and sultry&quot\; to &quot\;get on your feet and dance!&quot\; the Al Fe
nton Big Band brings the sounds of the big band to life.

Join us for our monthly Full Moon Labyrinth Walk on Mercy Ce
nter&rsquo\;s seven-circuit labyrinth\, with breathtaking views of the Lon
g Island Sound.\nPlease wear comfortable outdoor clothing\, bring a
flashlight and check in at our front desk when you arrive. We gather for a
brief introduction to the labyrinth and centering prayer before viewing t
he moon rise and walking the labyrinth. We then reconvene after the walk t
o share a comfortable cup of tea and to process our experience.\n&nb
sp\;

&nbsp\;Join&nbsp\;the Litchfield Historical Society&nbsp\;on
Thursday\, March 5 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. for a choose-your-own adventure st
yle program on immigration! For ages 7+. Participants will take on the ide
ntity of an immigrant to the United States and go through a series of task
s\, including traveling to America\, going through Ellis Island\, and navi
gating life in your new home. Registration is required. Payment is require
d at time of registration. $5 for members and $7 for non-members. Email re
gistration@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org or call 860-567-4501.

Middlesex Community College History Professor Victor Triay w
ill host a book reading and discussion of his newly published historical n
ovel On Freedom&rsquo\;s Shores on Thursday\, March 5 from 7-8:30
p.m. in the College&rsquo\;s new Pavilion at Founder&rsquo\;s Hall.&nbsp\
; The book\, which is available at amazon.com\, completes the gripping tri
logy of the Le&oacute\;n family\, freedom fighters living under Fidel Cast
ro&rsquo\;s regime in the 1960s\, telling the tale of the Le&oacute\;n chi
ldren who fled Castro&rsquo\;s Communist Cuba after the Bay of Pigs invasi
on as unaccompanied minors.&nbsp\; The children first land in Miami but qu
ickly end up in New York City where their lives take a series of unexpecte
d turns. Triay\, a Cuban American born and raised in Miami\, has written e
xtensively about Fidel Castro and the Communist takeover of the island nat
ion.&nbsp\; Free parking is available.\n&nbsp\;

The 15th&nbsp\;annual Wom
en Composers Festival of Hartford will be held&nbsp\;March 5-8\, 2015.&nbs
p\;For the past fourteen years\, the festival has provided an educational
and entertaining platform for the promotion of women'\;s music.&nbsp\;T
his year&rsquo\;s festival will feature&nbsp\;award-winning composer-in-re
sidence and sound artist Lisa Coons and guest ensemble Iktus Percussion. A
dditional festival events include concerts and presentations by Hartford-b
ased musicians including the New England Guitar Quartet and the Alpaca Str
ing Quartet.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n<
p style='margin-right:0px\;margin-bottom:0px\;margin-left:0px\;font-size:1
3px\;font-family:'Helvetica Neue'\;'>The festival will open at&nbsp\;6:00
PM&nbsp\;on&nbsp\;Thursday\, March 5&nbsp\;at Capital Community College wi
th the concert\, &ldquo\;The Invisible Woman.&rdquo\;&nbsp\;On Friday&nbsp
\;and&nbsp\;Saturday\, scholars will present research and lecture recitals
at Charter Oak Cultural Center.&nbsp\;Friday&nbsp\;evening&rsquo\;s conce
rt features Iktus Percussion performing works by Lisa Coons and the winner
s of the 2015 festival score competition.&nbsp\; The&nbsp\;Saturday&nbsp\;
evening concert will feature the Alpaca String Quartet performing brand ne
w compositions from New England and New York-based composers. The festival
concludes&nbsp\;on Sunday&nbsp\;afternoon at Christ Church Cathedral with
pianist Julia Mortyakova performing solo literature and songs for voice a
nd piano.&nbsp\;\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n

A full sc
hedule of events is available at www.womencomposersfestivalhartford.com. E
mail info@womencomposersfestivalhartford.com for more information.&nbsp\;<
/p>\n\n

A lecture/recital organized by board president and musicolog
ist Penny Brandt will feature a discussion of the ways in which women'\
;s contributions to music have historically been overlooked\, accompanied
by performances of music that would not exist without the contributions of
women. Topics include the recently controversial claim that some of Johan
n Sebastian Bach'\;s music was composed by his wife\, the valuation of
women as the objects of art rather than its creators\, and the impact of s
lavery on the anonymity of composers of African-American spirituals. Guest
performers include cellist Maria Martinez\, vocalists Alika Hope\, Amelia
Nagoski\, and Anna Hayrapetyan\, and composer and WCFest founder Heather
Seaton. Unlike our other events\, this lecture/recital is free to the publ
ic. Come find out what our festival is all about! Centinel Hill Hall is on
the 11th floor at Capital Community College\, 950 Main St\, Hartford. The
concert will begin at 6:00pm and last approximately 1 hour.

Come
on down to Karaoke Heroes in New Haven and show us what you&rsquo\;ve got!
! Join us for the Voice of the Parade Contest! The winner will take home a
Golden Microphone Award and will also win the honor of marching in the 20
15 Greater New Haven St. Patrick&rsquo\;s Day Parade! &nbsp\;Judges: Jon M
cMillan (professional singer) and Fiona Stewart\, 2013 Parade Queen. Each
contestant may sing one song. Prizes for best female performer\, male perf
ormer\, and best group performance (2 to 4 singers) will be awarded. All c
ontestants must sign up the night of the event and be present to win. Deci
sions will be final. Hope to see you there! &nbsp\;Proceeds to benefit the
2015 Parade.

Vin Knapp &ndash\; New Bri
tain native Lynn Roby Knapp will be performing at the museum. Singing Jazz
standards as well as dance hits from Motown to Disco and R&amp\;B Accompa
nying Lynn will be Joe Grieco On Keyboard and vocals\, Dean Coutsouridis s
ax and guitar and Vin Knapp drums.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Tas
tings: Max Pizza and Back East Brewing

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n<
p>Maker&rsquo\;s Market:\n\n

Sharon Kehmna (pottery
)\; and Northeast Nutmeg by Erin &amp\; Allie (scented candles) Sharon
Kehmna - I have been playing\, in one form or another\, with earth s
ince I was a small child. My exploration began in mud and dirt piles and c
ontinued on to small clay pots that I sometimes pinched and sometimes thre
w on a kick-wheel that my father built.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Althou
gh I&rsquo\;ve left clay in the past to explore painting and other media\,
I always come back to clay. It is\, and will always be\, my favorite art
medium. I enjoy the tactile pleasure and intuitive nature of clay. Clay sp
eaks to me. I love the challenge of its properties. Clay connects me to ea
rth and life. In difficult times\, it has saved my life.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

For many years I focused on hand building\, incorporating inter
esting found textures into my work. Currently\, I am honing my wheel throw
ing skills to create functional and decorative pottery. I am also beginnin
g to alter my wheel thrown forms and am combining them with texture and ot
her hand building techniques to create sculpture. Where this will all lead
me\, I do not know\, but I am enjoying this journey every step of the way
.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Erin &amp\; Allie are two local Nut
meggers inventing deliciously creative handmade candles. Their scents and
classic designs make these artisanal candles the perfect gift for each sea
son &amp\; every occasion. Each candle is made using soy wax&mdash\; from
soy grown right here in the USA and feature lots of local Connecticut smal
l business ingredients. Northeast Nutmeg Candles are perfect for warming h
omes and hearts!

Everyone has a story to tell. And\, for Wynonna Judd\, those
stories have been told through song with one of the most influential and
important voices of our generation. Come experience the timeless tales of
her unparalleled artistry as she takes you on the revolutionary journey of
her 30 year platinum career.&nbsp\; Hear the stories that inspired her to
record the songs\, create the tours and make recording history while insp
iring countless friends along the way

\n\n

Get your tickets and find
more information on our website&nbsp\;http://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event
/wynonna-and-friends-story-song#sthash.hfq0RHJg.dpuf

This concert features the Iktus percussion enemble performing wo
rks by guest composer Lisa Renee Coons and winning compositions from the W
omen Composers Festival of Hartford international score competition by Eli
zabeth Comninellis and Yiran Zhao. Based in New York City\, Iktus Percussi
on is an ambitious\, dynamic young ensemble committed to expanding the bou
ndaries of the percussion genre. They are a perfect match for Lisa Renee C
oons\, a composer and sound artist with a special affinity to noise compos
ition\, collaboration\, and experimentation\, who is dedicated to progress
ive art and focuses on partnerships with other artists and musicians as a
means of developing innovative new works. Join us for this exciting night
of new creations and sounds!

Join us for the annual Earthplace Auction. This y
ear it&rsquo\;s a Mad Men inspired event with live and silent auctions\, l
ive music\, beer\, wine\, signature cocktails and small bites.&nbsp\; So d
ust off your pearls and fedoras because 60&rsquo\;s party clothes are enco
uraged!&nbsp\; For more information and to purchase tickets go to www.eart
hplace.org. &nbsp\;

The Hartford-based Alpaca String Quartet will perfo
rm works by Liliya Ugay\, Mo Zhao\, Victoria Bond\, Rain Worthington\, Deb
ra Kaye\, and Patricia Julien\, whose works were selected for their musica
l merit and diverse interest from a score call by the creative team at the
2015 Women Composers Festival of Hartford. This concert will also feature
a bass clarinet duet by Lisa Renee Coons and music for viola and tape by
Jessica Meyer. Join us for an exciting evening of innovative explorations
of the string quartet\, a traditional staple of classical music.

\n\n

Tickets are available here:&nbsp\;http://www.eventbrite.com/o/wo
men-composers-festival-of-hartford-3087045102

\n\n\nPhone: 203-706-2535\n\n152 Litchfield Street\nTorrington\, CT
06790\n\n
DTSTART:20150307T190000
DTEND:20150307T230000
LOCATION:Knights of Columbus Hall
PRIORITY:
SUMMARY:Country Line Dance - NE Western Dance Assn.
URL:http://www.newdact.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:19569_20@www.connecticutmag.com
DTSTAMP:20150303T200325Z
CATEGORIES:MUSIC,STAGE
DESCRIPTION:The Irish folk band We Banjo 3 will perform at
the Katherine Hepburn Culteral Arts Center on Saturday\, March 7t
h at 8:00 P.M. Tickets are $35.00. The venue is located at 300
Main St\, Old Saybrook\, CT.\n\n \n\nBased in Galway\, We Banjo 3
is the hottest act on the Irish folk scene right now. We Banjo
3 comprises 2 sets of brothers\, Enda and Fergal Scahill\
, and Martin and David Howley. Yes\, there are 4 people
in We Banjo 3. But don't worry\, they don't all play the banjo. They just
like to be mysterious. Fiddle\, guitar\, vocals\, mandolin\, banjo and pe
rcussion make up the band\; when they release their joie-de-vivre\, feet t
ap and pulses race. Seamlessly blending Americana and Irish music this ba
nd of brothers has racked up awards in recent years. Their debut album Roots of the Banjo Tree won The Irish T
imes 'Traditional Album of the Year' and th
eir 2014 offering Gather The Good has won no les
s than 4 'Album of the Year' titles. \n\n \n\nIn 2014\, t
he band performed in 14 countries including headlining festivals in the U.
S.\, Denmark\, the U.K. and Germany. \n\n \n\nSiobhan Long of The Irish Times said 'We Banjo 3 are a musical Betty Ford C
linic\, almost single handedly rehabilitating the much maligned banjo in 4
short years'\n\n \n\nThe Irish Echo said their
music is 'Fabulously executed\, brilliantly arranged\, jaw-dropping'\n\n
\nFor more information:\n\nhttp://www.webanjo3.com/\n\n\n300 Main Street\n
Old Saybrook \, CT\n06475\n\n
DTSTART:20150307T200000
DTEND:20150307T000000
LOCATION:The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
PRIORITY:
SUMMARY:We Banjo 3 Live in Concert
URL:http://www.connecticutmag.com/Connecticut-Magazine/Calendar/?view=view_
event&itm=19569
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:19346_20@www.connecticutmag.com
DTSTAMP:20150303T200325Z
CATEGORIES:ART
CONTACT:Andrew Chatfield
DESCRIPTION:

The Middletown Public Schools Art Exhibition will run from S
aturday\, March 7 through Saturday\, March 14\, 2015. This event is sponso
red by the Middletown Board of Education\, Middletown Public Schools Cultu
ral Council\, and Wesleyan University&rsquo\;s Center for the Arts.

\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Gallery Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm\;
Monday through Friday from Noon to 7pm.

Twelve Master Classes provide an opportunity for intermediat
e to advanced dance students and dance professionals to explore diverse da
nce techniques during DanceMasters Weekend\, a rare two-day immersion in c
ontemporary dance. A Weekend Pass\, which includes five Master Classes\, i
s $75 for the general public (plus a $6 class registration fee)\, or $55 f
or Wesleyan students. Individual classes are $19 per class for the general
public\, $13 per class for Wesleyan students.

The Middletown Public Schools Art Exhibition will run from S
aturday\, March 7 through Saturday\, March 14\, 2015. This event is sponso
red by the Middletown Board of Education\, Middletown Public Schools Cultu
ral Council\, and Wesleyan University&rsquo\;s Center for the Arts. Galler
y open Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm and Monday through Friday from
Noon to 7pm.

*JAZZ IMPROV MAGAZINE SAYS THE SHERYL BAILEY 3 IS &quot\;THE
ULTIMATE CONTEMPORARY ORGAN TRIO!&quot\;\n\n*ADAM LEVY OF GUI
TAR PLAYER MAGAZINE HAS SAID ABOUT THEIR 2014 RELEASE\, &quot\;A MEETING O
F MINDS:&quot\;\n&ldquo\;The album&rsquo\;s title is apt\, though it
could have been called &ldquo\;A Melding Of Minds&rdquo\; because the pla
yers (Bailey\, Ian Froman on drums and organist Ron Oswanski) are so in sy
nch that they seem to finish each other&rsquo\;s musical ideas at times. T
hough it was recorded in the studio\, &ldquo\;Minds&rdquo\; has an undenia
ble live feel. The playing is bold and energetic\, and each member of the
trio spurs the other one on while keeping their own ears wide open.&rdquo\
;\n&nbsp\; DON'\;T MISS THE &quot\;SIZZLING GUITAR GODDESS&quot\;
AND HER TRIO'\;S NEW HAVEN DEBUT ON SATURDAY MARCH 7 AT THE 9TH NOTE h
ttp://www.the9thnote.com/ 9PM $10 COVER. FOR RESERVATIONS\, CALL: 203.691.
9918 59 ORANGE STREET\, NEW HAVEN CT 06510\n\nFOR MORE INFORMA
TION ON THIS ARTIST AND EVENT:\nWWW.SHERYLBAILEY.COM &nbsp\; &nbsp\;
&nbsp\;

Celebrate the sweetness of the maple sugar
ing season as this annual family favorite returns to the Stamford Museum &
amp\; Nature Center. Visit the little red sugarhouse on Heckscher Farm and
see firsthand how sap is turned into maple syrup. Witness how trees are t
apped\, see how sap is collected\, make a maple-themed craft\, go on a sca
venger hunt\, have your face painted\, and sing and dance to live music fr
om Jay and Ray. Additionally\, Heckscher WILD!\, a new\, interactive live
exotic animal exhibit on Heckscher Farm\, will celebrate its grand opening
this weekend.

\n\n

On Saturday\, watch teen chefs create delicious d
ishes using SM&amp\;NC maple syrup and vote for your favorite in the First
County Bank Teen Chefs Challenge from 11:30 am &ndash\; 1:30 pm. On Sunda
y\, enjoy our popular pancake brunch from 11 am to 2 pm. Don&rsquo\;t forg
et to purchase a pint of fresh maple syrup\, made from the trees at the St
amford Museum &amp\; Nature Center. Save time by purchasing your festival
admission and pancake brunch tickets in advance at stamfordmuseum.org.

* * * * S
tamford Museum &amp\; Nature Center is dedicated to the preservation and i
nterpretation of art\, the natural and agricultural sciences\, and history
. The Museum is a vital cultural and educational resource for the communit
y\, and a focal point for family activity through exhibitions\, educationa
l programs and special events.

Alumni from the WCSU Department of Music will perform at 7 p
.m. in the Veronica Hagman Concert Hall of the Visual and Performing Arts
Center on the university'\;s Westside campus\, 43 Lake Ave. Extension i
n Danbury. The concert will be free and the public is invited. Donations t
o support the Department of Music will be accepted. For a complete list of
similar SVPA events\, visit www.wcsu.edu/svpa/events.asp.

Stamford'\;s 20th Anniversary St. Patrick'\;s Day Para
de will take place on Saturday\, March 6\, beginning at 12 noon.&nbsp\; Th
e parade with over 80 marching units and bagpipers will start off at Colum
bus Park at Main Street and proceed up Atlantic and Bedford Streets. A spe
cial children'\;s fun activities center will be at Veterans Park\, corn
er of Main and Atlantic.&nbsp\; Enjoy the parade and the great variety of
pubs and restaurants along the parade route.

Do you remember
the last moment in your life when you were totally relaxed and nurtured an
d cared for? Do you rush around and through your life trying to get things
done and wondering where ease and joy are? Has it been a little too long
since you received healing and kindness without any judgment of your body
or your being?

\n\n

\nJOIN Whitney Christina for a super yummy
Bars class at the Energetic Being Center\, 3 Barnard Lane\, Top Floor. Blo
omfield\, CT. There is ample free&nbsp\;parking and elevator access&nbsp\;
in the back of the building.\n\n&bull\; You will be introduced
to basic Access Consciousness tools and how they can be used to create th
e change you have been looking for.\n&bull\; Have a clear understand
ing what the clearing statement &quot\;right\, wrong\, good\, bad\, poc\,
pod\, all 9\, boys\, shorts\, and beyonds &quot\; means\,\n&bull\; Y
ou will gift and receive bars twice and receive the manual.\n&bull\;
Become an Access Bars Practitioner enabling you to do bars on others!!!!<
/p>\n\n

WOULD IT BE FUN to join us for this yummy\, nurturing\, playful
Bars class\, with lots of information and processes!&nbsp\; Call for more
info. 8 Hours Massage Therapy CEU'\;s Provided.&nbsp\;Tickets Available
: www.accessconsciousness.com

Young At Art will showcase crea
tive work from hundreds of regional students ages 18 and younger in Mystic
Arts Center&rsquo\;s galleries. Come see original artwork in a variety of
media from oil\, photography\, and sculpture to mixed media. Submissions
will come from all over New London County and Rhode Island with many group
projects from area schools displayed.

\n\n

The exhibit is part of My
stic Arts Center&rsquo\;s commitment to fostering creativity in the commun
ity. Young At Art brings families together in a community space and encour
ages the use of art to advance learning in our region&rsquo\;s schools.

Through hands-on water testing\, participants in
this three-part workshop will be introduced to the various ways water qual
ity is viewed and evaluated. With demonstrations of field and lab instrume
ntation\, the program will focus on the correct procedure for sampling wat
er and measuring various elements of water health. Ultimately\, participan
ts will learn how field measurements lead to the understanding and detecti
ng of pollution.&nbsp\; Participant must be a sophomore in hight school or
older. &nbsp\;Meets&nbsp\;March 7\, 14 and 21.

\nThe Cash Flow 2 Freed
om Real Estate Summit will be happening in Meriden\, CT on March 7-8.\n\nDuring this special 2-day event\, attendees will discover secre
ts for online and offline real estate marketing\, negotiations\, finding a
nd managing contractors\, planning a renovate project\, and saving money o
n materials. Plus experienced real estate investors will share how to buy
real estate using none or little real of their own funding. Participants w
ill hear about actual real estate transactions happening here in Connectic
ut and New England.\n\n- Discover how to negotiate ANYTHING an
d espeically real estate to get YOUR price and YOUR terms ...&nbsp\;
- Find how how to save money on materials ... even from the BIG BOX stores
\n- Buy real estate using NONE or LITTLE of your own money\n-
Have motivated sellers and buyers come to you on a penny budget\n- A
nd much more

Join nature photographer Stanley Kolber for a wonde
rful photography workshop in the&nbsp\;Eagles of Essex&nbsp
\;exhibit.&nbsp\;Birds were&nbsp\; Stan&rsquo\;s first love when\, some fo
urteen years ago\, he picked up a camera and set a course for photography
as a second career and full-time artistic endeavor. And although the subje
ct of his work has evolved\, his ardor for birds\, and for rendering them
lovingly and faithfully\, is undiminished.&nbsp\;Stan&rsquo\;s work is hel
d in corporate and private collections\, and he has had a one-man show at
Chelsea\, New York&rsquo\;s Pleiades Gallery. He was one of only fourteen
artists selected out of four hundred submitting artists nationwide to part
icipate in a Pleiades juried show whose juror was a curator of American Ar
t at the Guggeheim Museum.

\n\n

In addition to helping skill
s development\, his greatest pleasure in giving workshops is the opportuni
ty to kindle and encourage his audience&rsquo\;s interest in the natural w
orld.&nbsp\; He hopes that young people as well as adults will attend the
workshops\, so that he can impart some of his own enthusiasm to the import
ant next generation.

Even inside Genesis\, Mike Rutherford&rsquo\;s forte has alw
ays been his melodic songwriting. With the successful side project Mike &a
mp\; the Mechanics\, the artist managed to find a further way to express h
imself working with other composers and different teams. Since 1985\, Mech
anics became a brand in their own\, releasing seven albums\, selling more
than 10 million records\, launching many hit singles and touring worldwide
with a two frontmen led band.

National Theatre in HD\n'\;Of Mice and Men&
#39\; by John Steinbeck&nbsp\;

\n\n

Golden Globe&reg\; winne
r and Academy Award&reg\; nominee James Franco (127 Hours\, Milk) and Tony
Award&reg\; nominee Chris O&rsquo\;Dowd (Bridesmaids\, Girls) star in the
hit Broadway production Of Mice And Men\, filmed on stage by National The
atre Live. This landmark revival of Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck'\
;s play is a powerful portrait of the American spirit and a heartbreaking
testament to the bonds of friendship.

\n\n

See more at: http://ridgef
ieldplayhouse.org/event/national-theatre-mice-and-men#sthash.FlRgl0hs.dpuf

Nick Di Maria is a
New Haven\, CT based trumpeter\, composer\, producer\, and educator. A gr
aduate of Western Connecticut State University\, Nick holds a Bachelor&rsq
uo\;s in Jazz Performance studying under Eddie Henderson\, Dave Scott\, Je
remy Pelt\, Taylor Ho Bynum and Rich Clymer\, a Master&rsquo\;s of Science
in Music Education\, and his Connecticut Teaching Certification. Nick cur
rently is on staff at Michael F. Wallace Middle School in Waterbury\, CT.<
/p>\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Nick began playing music at age 10 and over th
e years has played in multiple genres from jazz to reggae to classical to
punk. In 2001 Nick joined the CT Ska/Punk scene playing with the infamous
band\, The Flaming Tsunamis. For 5 years Nick was an integral member of th
e 6 piece band\, touring with\, and co-writing some of the band&rsquo\;s m
ost famous tunes. Nick appears on 2 of the band&rsquo\;s albums\, Focus th
e Fury (2002) and Zombies vs. Robots! (2004)

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

I
n 2006 upon graduating from college\, Nick assembled his first working qua
rtet. From the beginning the band began working the CT jazz scene playing
all over the state\, including a residency in Newtown in the summer of 200
6.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

2012 Nick recorded his second studio releas
e\, The Beatnik\, at Firehouse 12 Studios in New Haven. The album contains
9 original compositions that reflect Nick&rsquo\;s compositional influenc
es. The album is half straight ahead\, half electro-acoustic jazz. The qua
rtet plays more of its vamp based music and includes some special guests.
See the Discography section for more info on Nick&rsquo\;s releases.

\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Nick is also Director of the Outer Space Jazz Series\
, a local\, weekly jazz showcase at the Outer Space club in Hamden\, CT. N
ick has worked with musicians of the highest caliber. In the 2012-2013 sea
son Jeremy Pelt\, Wayne Escoffery\, Peter Bernstein\, and Jimmy Greene hav
e performed at the series. Nick also directed the now annual O.S. Jazz Fes
tival which consists of bands from all over the state performing originall
y composed jazz.

The Danbury Music Centre will perform at 3 p.m. in the Veron
ica Hagman Concert Hall of the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the WC
SU Westside campus\, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. The concert will b
e free and the public is invited. For more information\, go to http://danb
urymusiccentre.org/.

The final concert of our festival weekend features
works by Mel Fitzhugh\, Anais Azul\, Sarah Mauro\, Beth Ratay\, Deborah Ya
rdley\, Kala Pierson\, Patricia Leonard\, Melanie Mitrano\, and Dana Kaufm
an\, all selected for their musical interest and idiomatic use of the pian
o by the creative team at the Women Composers Festival of Hartford. The wo
rks will be performed by guests of the composers and by two accomplished p
ianists and scholars\, Julia Mortyakova and Miguel Campinho. Originally fr
om Moscow\, Dr. Mortyakova currently teaches and serves as Chair of the De
partment of Music at the Mississippi University for Women. Miguel Campinho
\, a native of Portugal\, is currently finishing a DMA at the Hartt School
\, and has been a popular guest performer with the Women Composers Festiva
l of Hartford over the last decade. Join us for what is sure to be an inti
mate and moving afternoon recital of piano works and songs in the beautifu
l space of Christ Church Cathedral.

The Haven String Quartet joins a distinguished roster of per
formers in this special shoreline concert series! William Stanton Andrews&
nbsp\; Memorial Town Hall 54 East Main St.\, Clinton\, CT For more info\,
visit&nbsp\;georgeflynnclassicalconcerts.com&nbsp\;or&nbsp\;musichavenct.o
rg

On Sunday\, March 8 at 2:00 p.m. the Litchfield Historical S
ociety welcomes Ask Your Father\, a musical ensemble from Norwich\, CT. Th
e group will present &quot\;Creating a National Identity: Songs of the Iri
sh Americans\,&quot\; a lecture and music performance that explores the fa
scinating history of a variety of songs that evoke strong emotional vision
s of Ireland\, but are of American authorship. Ask Your Father is the husb
and and wife team Rich &amp\; Dee Kelly and their partner Rick Spencer. Th
is program is made possible with support from CT Humanities.

\n\n

Fre
e for members and $5 for non-members. Registration is required. Payment is
required at time of registration. To register\, email registration@litchf
ieldhistoricalsociety.org or call 860-567-4501.

Painter Sabrina Marques will discuss her work at 10:30 a.m.
in Room 144 of the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the WCSU Westside
campus\, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. The event will be free and ope
n to the public\, and it will be presented as part of the university'\;
s Master of Fine Arts slide lecture series. For more information\, call (2
03) 837-8403. For a complete list of similar SVPA events\, visit www.wcsu.
edu/svpa/events.asp.

Join us in the Living Room for mah-jongg instruction with te
acher Linda Korsko!\nMar. 10: Learn the game.\nMar. 17: Play t
he game.\nMai Tais will be served. Advanced and intermediate players
also welcome to join and play during the lessons.&nbsp\;

New Media a
rtist Catherine Ross frames instances on video that often go unnoticed in
their original context. Isolating the movements of humans and/or objects\,
her videos create new sequences that reveal an inseparable relationship b
etween motion and sound. In Laugh Track (2013)\, she recontectual
izes film clips of both men and women laughing. The result is a mini overt
ure in which laughter reveals an inherent awkwardness\, a humor that echoe
s our own vulnerabilities.

\n\n

Catherine Ross'\;s video works hav
e been presented in exhibitions and festivals internationally\, including
venues in Brazil\, Finland\, France\, Ireland\, England\, Canada and the U
nited States. She was award&rdquo\; at the 2006 Darklight Festival (Dublin
\, Ireland).

Join us for the fourth annual Alumni Art Show at UB'\;s S
chelfhaudt Gallery!&nbsp\; The installation will be open to the public dur
ing regular gallery hours: Monday-Friday 11:00am-4:00pm\, Saturday 12:00pm
-4:00pm. &nbsp\;

Catherine Ross'\;s video works frame instances that often
go unnoticed in their original context. Isolating the movements of humans
and/or objects\, her videos create new sequences that reveal an inseparab
le relationship between motion and sound. In her Laugh Track\, 2013\, she
recontextualizes film clips of both men and women laughing. The result is
a mini overture in which laughter reveals an inherent awkwardness\, a humo
r that echoes our own vulnerabilities.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Ross
9\;s video works have been presented in exhibitions and festivals internat
ionally. Ross attended the Skowhegan School of Painting &amp\; Sculpture i
n 2002\, the Atlantic Center for the Arts in 2003 and received a 2005-06 r
esidency from The Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation. Ross was awarded &quo
t\;Best International Short Award&quot\; at the 2006 Darklight Festival (D
ublin\, IRELAND). She received her BA in studio art from Dartmouth College
in 1994. Catherine Ross lives and works in Brooklyn\, New York.

\n\n

Complimentary light refreshments will be served from 5:30-6 p.m. followed
by a program from 6-7 p.m.&nbsp\;

Expertly combining the dusty stomp of Western swing with hot
gypsy jazz\, this Austin-based trio has crafted a unique and infectious h
ybrid that playfully blurs musical boundaries.&nbsp\; Fiddler Elana James\
, guitarist Whit Smith and bassist Jake Erwin have been conjuring the spir
it of both Bob Wills and&nbsp\;jazz m
anouche&nbsp\;legend Django Reinhardt for close to fifteen years and
show no sign of slowing down.

A meal of Guinness beef stew\, Irish soda bread\, and pickle
d beets is followed by a delicious&nbsp\;\napple cake. Live music wi
ll be performed by Geoff Kaufman on Friday night and Tom Hanford on Saturd
ay night. The evening finished with a variety of tavern games. Sittings at
6 &amp\; 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 for museum members and $35 for non-member
s. A vegetarian entr&eacute\;e is available by reservation only. Visit www
.noahwebsterhouse.org for tickets and information.&nbsp\;

On Golden Pond is a charming slice of life play that encompa
sses universal family themes such as aging\, love\, resentment\, loss\, fo
rgiveness\, acceptance and renewal. It deals with a family coming to grips
with finality and reflection as to whether or not they &quot\;measured up
.&quot\; The setting is Golden Pond\, Maine\, the Thayer'\;s summer ret
reat where they have come for a long time and where they face perhaps thei
r last summer.

\n\n

Performances are on March 13\, 14\, 15\, 20\, 21
and 22 in the DAC Weatherstone Studio. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8
p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchase
d online at darienarts.org or by calling the DAC box office at (203) 655-5
414. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Road\, behind the Darien Town Hall.
p>\n\n\nPhone: 2036558683\n\n2 Renshaw Rd\nBehind Town Hall\nDarien\, CT\n
06820\n\n
DTSTART:20150313T200000
DTEND:20150313T220000
LOCATION:Darien Arts Center Weatherstone Studio
PRIORITY:
RRULE:FREQ=WEEKLY;UNTIL=20150322;INTERVAL=1;BYDAY=SU,FR,SA;WKST=SU
SUMMARY:On Golden Pond
URL:http://www.darienarts.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:19165_20@www.connecticutmag.com
DTSTAMP:20150303T200325Z
CATEGORIES:MUSIC
DESCRIPTION:

While iconic roots rock The Band may be long gone from the s
tage\, The THE BAND Band is keeping their sound and spirit alive and well
with authentic\, true-to-form renditions of the legendary repertoire.&nbsp
\;&nbsp\; This group of veteran musicians showcases the astounding breadth
and depth of The Band'\;s distinctively original Americana music with
classics such as Up on Cripple Creek\, The Weight and The Night They Drove
Old Dixie Down\, as well as deeper cuts from The Band&rsquo\;s vast catal
og.

\n\n

As the premier tribute to The Band\, The THE BAND Band celeb
rates the intricacy and genius of The Band'\;s harmonies\, preserving t
he spirit of their live performances.&nbsp\; Drawing their set list from T
he Band'\;s seminal period - from Big Pink to The Last Waltz - they bri
ng the songs to life again. www.thethebandband.com

Ahoy\, Matey! Come if ye dare and be part of our sw
ashbuckling crew who are lookin&rsquo\; for a lively&nbsp\;way to let off
a bit of winter steam\, grab your sword and hoist your sails to the Privat
eers&rsquo\; Bash on Saturday\,&nbsp\;March 14.

\n\n

All are
invited&nbsp\;to come in costume and relive Riverfront history at the nin
th annual Bash\, a playful nod to the privateers who&nbsp\;made their weal
th by relieving foreign ships of their valuable cargo during the War of 18
12. Grog\, grub\, music&nbsp\;and dancing will fill three floors of exhibi
t galleries from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm. &nbsp\;Great treasure can be found w
ith great&nbsp\;prizes up for raffle plus booty awarded for best costumes.

The ad got it right: &ldquo\;Membership has its privileges.&
rdquo\; So\, as a friend of the Westport Historical Society\, you&rsquo\;r
e cordially invited to join us on March 14 for a private tour of four hist
oric Westport homes\, followed by lunch at the Society&rsquo\;s Bradley Wh
eeler House and a lecture about our current &ldquo\;Saugatuck @ Work&rdquo
\; exhibit by Kathleen Motes Bennewitz\, Town Curator and WHS Exhibits Con
sultant. But you need to jump on this one right away: the tour is for memb
ers only and limited to 30 people.&nbsp\; We will start at 9:45am and end
at 2pm.

\n\n

Edward F. Gerber\, President of WHS\, encourages members
who appreciate landmark homes &ldquo\;to join the tour to see what other
historic house aficionados have done with their homes.&rdquo\; As he noted
\, &ldquo\;although these are historic houses\, most have been updated to
suit the lifestyles of today&rsquo\;s families with children. And unlike o
ur Holiday House Tour\, on this tour the homeowners will present the house
s themselves.\n&nbsp\;

\n\n

The first site is a home on Sylvan
Road North once owned by sculptor H. Daniel Webster\, creator of Westport&
rsquo\;s famous Minute Man statue. This circa 1790 home won a Westport His
toric District Commission 2014 Preservation Award.\n&nbsp\;

\n\n<
p>Next stop is a vintage 1764 home on Cross Highway\, which was for 50 yea
rs the residence of &ldquo\;the Dean of Westport artists\,&rdquo\; George
Hand Wright.\n\n

From there it&rsquo\;s on to Long Lots Road to visi
t the oldest house in Westport: a 17th century dwelling\, known as the Mil
ls-Osborne House. It was once thought to date from 1775\, but further rese
arch indicated it was built between 1683 and 1687.

\n\n

The final sto
p is a house on Compo Road South that should pique the interest of lovers
of American literature. In the summer of 1920\, F. Scott Fitzgerald and hi
s bride\, Zelda\, rented the circa 1780 Colonial for several months while
Scott was writing his second novel\, &ldquo\;The Beautiful and Damned\,&rd
quo\; and the couple hit all the local speakeasies. This home &nbsp\;is al
so the winner of a Westport Historic District Commission Preservation Awar
d.

A mandala is a circular design which represents wholeness. T
he word &quot\;mandala&quot\; comes from the Sanskrit meaning &quot\;essen
ce.&quot\; Mandalas are sacred circles which have been used as symbols for
prayer\, healing\, and enlightenment from ancient times to the present in
spiritual traditions around world\, including Buddhist\, Hindu\, Navajo\,
and Aboriginal. In the Christian tradition\, the labyrinth is a mandala.
In this experiential workshop\, you will create your own prayer mandala. N
o experience necessary. The cost is $53 and includes all material and lunc
h in our dining room overlooking the Long Island Sound.

Performing all of the Blues Brothers&trade\; classic
s: '\;Soul Man\,'\; Rubber Biscuit\,'\; '\;Sweet Home Chicago\
,'\; '\;Rawhide\,'\; '\;Gimme Some Lovin'\; - This live con
cert show combines the comedy and hits from the original movie\, and pays
homage to Chicago&rsquo\;s rich history of blues\, gospel and soul music.&
nbsp\;

\n\n

Visit our website for tickets and more information:&nbsp\
;http://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/official-blues-brothers-revue#sthash
.XI2AXtf5.dpuf

On two weekends in March\,&nbsp\;CitySingers&nbsp\;will pres
ent Celtic Fire\, an exploration of the sacred Celtic&nbsp\;tradition that
will ignite the imagination with captivating folk melodies\, soulful chan
ts\, ancient rhythms&nbsp\;and entrancing poetry.&nbsp\;CitySingers&nbsp\;
of Hartford will trace this tradition from its earliest roots and feature&
nbsp\;compositions by celebrated composers such as&nbsp\;Turlough&nbsp\;O&
#39\;Carolan\, Sean&nbsp\;O'\;Riada\, and Michael&nbsp\;McGlynn.&nbsp\;

Paul Byrom is often hailed as one of Ireland&rsquo\;s
premier tenors. The Dublin-born tenor began voice training when he was jus
t seven years old. In 2007 Paul became one of the original soloists in the
show Celtic Thunder. Fans quickly nicknamed him &ldquo\;The Swanky Tenor&
rdquo\; for his suave and romantic style in performing\, which is stamped
on such numbers as &ldquo\;Remember Me\, Recuerde Me&rdquo\; and &ldquo\;S
he&rdquo\;.

The TLC Foundati
on will be hosting the second annual&nbsp\;&ldquo\;Share the Love&rdquo\;
event on Saturday\, March 14\, 2015 from 7pm to 12am at the Regency Hyatt
in Greenwich\, CT.&nbsp\; The Ty Louis Campbell (TLC) Foundation is a volu
teer-run nonprofit organization that funds innovative research and technol
ogy specifically geared toward the treatment of the deadliest childhood ca
ncers.&nbsp\; The &ldquo\;Share the Love&rdquo\; fundraiser is an opportun
ity to celebrate their success during an annual cocktail party\, charitabl
e casino night\, and an auction which will have dancing\, prizes\, and mor
e.&nbsp\; Tickets are $150 per person.&nbsp\; For more information\, pleas
e visit: www.2015sharethelove.eventbrite.com

In Modern Buddhism\, Geshe Kelsang says that &ldquo\;on one
level we know our body very well&ndash\;we know whether it is healthy or u
nhealthy\, beautiful or ugly and so forth. However\, we never examine it m
ore deeply to understand its true nature.&rdquo\;

\n\n

From misunders
tanding the body and other phenomena\, we relate to them in an unrealistic
way\,causing us to experience disappointment\, suffering and unhappiness
in general. From Buddha&rsquo\;s teachings on wisdom\, we learn how invest
igating the nature of reality gives us the freedom to choose happiness ove
r suffering and solve our inner problems. Through meditating on wisdom\, w
e can learn to overcome anxiety and worry\, subdue anger and experience in
ner peace.

\n\n

In this half-day guided meditation retreat\, gain ins
ight into and learn how to relate to the body\, the self and all phenomena
based on reality that in turn creates immense freedom in our life. For al
l levels of experience.

\n\n

$40 or Free for Members.\n$35 if registered and paid by February 28.
Pay securely online through Paypal by clicking the link below.

Music on the Hill celebrates St. Patrick'\;s Day with a concer
t of Irish music performed by the Festival Chorus and Jubilate Ringers han
dbell choir.

\n\n

The Jubilate Ringers will perform Artistic Director Davi
d H. Connell'\;s &quot\;Give Us a Dance Then\,&quot\; a suite of Irish
dances arranged for handbells\, which the group premiered last March. &nbs
p\;The suite includes the jigs\, reels\, and waltzes of a traditional Iris
h&nbsp\;ceili\, or dance party\, complete with bell effects evoki
ng the bagpiper'\;s drone and dancers'\; clogs. Dr. Connell conducts
the ringers.

\n\n

The Festival Chorus\, led by Artistic Director Ellen Di
ckinson\, will perform traditional Irish songs\, including &quot\;Carrickf
ergus&quot\; and &quot\;'\;Tis the Last Rose of Summer&quot\; as arrang
ed for the King'\;s Singers. &nbsp\;Other selections include a wordless
&quot\;Londonderry Air&quot\; arranged by Percy Grainger and choral setti
ngs of the poetry of W.B. Yeats.

Bel canto superstars Joyce DiDonato and Juan Diego Fl&oacute
\;rez join forces for this Rossini showcase of vocal virtuosity\, set in t
he medieval Scottish highlands and based on a beloved novel by Sir Walter
Scott. DiDonato is the &ldquo\;lady of the lake&rdquo\; of the title\, and
Fl&oacute\;rez is the king who relentlessly pursues her\, their vocal fir
eworks embellishing the romantic plot in this Met premiere production cond
ucted by Michele Mariotti.

\n\n

Visit our website for more informatio
n and to purchase tickets:&nbsp\;http://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/met-
opera-hd-rossinis-la-donna-del-lago#sthash.X4yZkN7N.dpuf

Click on the Artist&rsquo\;s photo within this posting and t
hen scroll down a bit to view the promo video clip! Yes\, Big bad Voodoo D
addy is coming to Hartford for the very first time&hellip\;&hellip\;so gra
b your partner and gear up for a night of awesome and delightful music fro
m the band that swings and boogies like none other.

Just in time for summer\, Kidologie Children'\;s Fairs br
ings together under one roof kid-friendly businesses offering information
on social\, recreational\, cultural\, and educational activities and progr
ams to assist families in planning how they will spend their warm summer m
onths. Annually held at the Reed Intermediate School in Newtown\, CT\, 3rd
Annual Kidologie Gets Ready for Summer will take place on&nbsp\;Sunday\,
March 15\, 2015\, between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.\nThe fun packed and
educational event attracts more than 1\,600 attendees and 70 local and reg
ional exhibitors.&nbsp\;&nbsp\; Unique to the 3rd Annual Kidologie Gets Re
ady for Summer event&nbsp\;is its two stages providing continuous entertai
nment by leading area performers.&nbsp\; The event also includes free hand
s-on activities for children\, free signature goody bags for families\, fr
ee giveaways with products\, discounts and other gifts\, and a special &ls
quo\;golden ticket&rsquo\; grand prize all-inclusive family vacation to Wo
odloch Resort.&nbsp\; With ample free parking\, affordable family admissio
n\, and food service trucks\, this is the place to be! To connect with us
on social media\, find kidologie or kidologieCT in facebook\, Twitter ( #k
idologie )\, instagram ( #kidologie )\, Youtube\, Pinterest\, Google Plus.
For more information contact info@connectologie.com or call (203) 794-661
2.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;\nUse promotional code KID1002 and save 20%!\n
&nbsp\;

Disconnect From the Outside World\nSt. John&rsquo\;s E
piscopal Church will be presenting Choral Music for the Soul\, which will
help you connect with the sacred.\n&nbsp\;\n&nbsp\;\nWES
T HARTFORD &ndash\; Disconnect from the outside world and connect with the
sacred.\n&nbsp\;\nOn Sunday\, March 15\, Sacred Music at the
Red Door will present a concert of Choral Music for the Soul\, featuring t
he youth choir\, adult choir\, and chamber orchestra.\n&nbsp\;
The concert will take place at 4 p.m. at St. John&rsquo\;s Episcopal Churc
h in West Hartford. Admission is free\, but there is a suggested donation
of $20.\n&nbsp\;\nThe St. John&rsquo\;s choirs will present su
blime choral works from Vienna\, and from the Anglican and American choral
tradition\, with the accompaniment of the chamber orchestra and organ. Th
e concert will include Schubert&rsquo\;s Beautiful Mass in G\, Mozart&rsqu
o\;s Ave Verum Corpus\, and other choral works by Ralph Vaughan Williams\,
Herbert Howells\, Bob Chilcott\, Randall Thompson\, and John Rutter.\n&nbsp\;\nFor more information about this and other upcoming conce
rts\, please visit www.reddoormusic.org\, call 860-523-5201\, or e-mail mu
sic@sjparish.net.\n&nbsp\;\nSacred Music at the Red Door\, St.
John&rsquo\;s Episcopal Church&rsquo\;s gift to the community of West Har
tford\, presents the fourth in a series of five concerts for the 2014-15 s
eason. The series has helped to establish St. John&rsquo\;s as a destinati
on for those seeking musical refreshment and excellence &ndash\; drawing o
n the existing strengths of the choirs and guest artists\, architecture\,
organ\, location\, and Anglican heritage.\n&nbsp\;\nSt. John&r
squo\;s Episcopal Church is located at 679 Farmington Ave.\, near Prospect
Street\, in West Hartford. The church is wheelchair accessible and has am
ple free parking. St. John&rsquo\;s Episcopal Church is a vibrant parish w
hich comes together in beauty and grace to celebrate and share the gifts o
f God. We strive\, with God&rsquo\;s help\, to listen\, connect\, serve\,
and grow. At St. John&rsquo\;s\, we seek to create and offer exciting oppo
rtunities to make spiritual connections with God and with one another. Tha
t offer is made to both members and visitors alike. The clergy and lay lea
dership of St. John&rsquo\;s hopes that those connections will be meaningf
ul and lasting for each and every one of us.\n&nbsp\;\nFor mor
e information\, or to schedule an interview\, contact Scott Lamlein at mus
ic@sjparish.net or by calling 860-523-5201 x322.&nbsp\;

On Sunday\, March\, 2015 South Windsor Cult
ural Arts is pleased to welcome back pianist Daniel del Pino to their conc
ert series.&nbsp\;&nbsp\; Mr. del Pino is one of the leading Spanish conce
rt pianists on the international scene\, having performed on all five cont
inents.&nbsp\; He has won numerous First Prizes in national and internatio
nal piano competitions\, receiving special recognition for his interpretat
ion of Spanish music and the works of Chopin.&nbsp\; Mr. del Pino is a fre
quent guest of numerous festivals worldwide and his performances have been
broadcasted by radio stations around the world.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

The program will include works by Beethoven\, Franck and Chopin.

\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

This concert is at 2:00 pm at Wood M
emorial Library\, 783 Main Street\, South Windsor. &nbsp\;Doors are open a
t 1:30. &nbsp\;Come early for best seats. &nbsp\;The concert is FR
EE and donations are welcomed. &nbsp\;Th
is program is sponsored by Robert Connell and Michelle Duffy. &nb
sp\;For information\, call (860)-644-5320 or (860)-416-6920.

This feature length documentary is a celebration of seeds\,
and a caution against GMO'\;s.&nbsp\;&nbsp\; Following the film\, the D
irector\, Sean Kaminsky\, will be hosting a question-and-answer session.&n
bsp\;&nbsp\; All are welcome.

On the heels of the sold-out show at Hartford Stage in Decem
ber\, this reprise performance brings the authentic voices and real-life e
xperiences of women from prison to the stage. Integrating movement\, spoke
n word and song\, In My Shoes is performed by si
x women who have reentered Connecticut communities from York Correctional
Institution with The Ensemble of the Judy Dworin Performance Project. A po
st-performance talk will invite audience questions and discussion of crimi
nal and social justice\, strengths-based intervention programs in prison\,
and the role of the arts as agents of change.&nbsp\;

Art
can inspire\, soothe\, excite\, delight &hellip\; and even fool you! Meet
masters of illusion&mdash\;artists who have perfected the technique of tr
ompe l&rsquo\;oeil\, or &ldquo\;deceive the eye&rdquo\;&mdash\;and decode
symbols and riddles in a special exhibit on trompe l'\;oeil artist Otis
Kaye. Afterward\, turn everyday objects into your own tiny trompe l&rsquo
\;oeil pictures by zooming in on details and shadows. Monday\, Ap
r. 20 See &lsquo\;Scapes! Traverse space and time in a m
atter of steps as you delve into landscapes\, cityscapes\, and seascapes t
hat NBMAA artists have captured in wildly varying styles over centuries. J
ourney from the New England wilderness to the rocky shores of California\,
then pack an artist&rsquo\;s toolkit and head into Walnut Hill Park for s
ome en plein air landscape drawing!

\n\n

Oct.-May 9-11 a.m. <
/strong>

\n\n

$8 per child/Members $10 per child/non-Members

\n\n

(No charge for accompanying adults and childr
en under 5)

\n\n

Homeschool Days are learning experiences de
signed exclusively for homeschool families. Join us before the Museum open
s to the public to explore the galleries with one of our knowledgeable doc
ents. Each dynamic\, interactive tour will end in our bright and spacious
Art Studio\, where students will engage in a hands-on project related to t
he theme of the day. Homeschool Days are designed with a school aged audie
nce in mind\, and families with young children are encouraged to make use
of books\, games\, and self-guided art projects in the Family ArtLab while
registered students take part in the day&rsquo\;s activities. Space is li
mited to 30 students\, and pre-registration is required. Payment is due at
time of preregistration. To pre-register or for more information\, please
contact Katy\, Coordinator of School &amp\; Family Programs\, at matsuzak
ik@nbmaa.org or (860) 229-0257\, ext. 220.

Art can inspire\, soothe\, excite\, delight &hellip\; and e
ven fool you! Meet masters of illusion&mdash\;artists who have perfected t
he technique of trompe l&rsquo\;oeil\, or &ldquo\;deceive the eye&rdquo\;&
mdash\;and decode symbols and riddles in a special exhibit on trompe l'
\;oeil artist Otis Kaye. Afterward\, turn everyday objects into your own t
iny trompe l&rsquo\;oeil pictures by zooming in on details and shadows.

\n\n

Third Monday of every month\,\nOct.-May 9-11 a.m. <
/strong>\n(No charge for accompanying adults and children un
der 5)

\n\n

Homeschool Days are learning experiences designe
d exclusively for homeschool families. Join us before the Museum opens to
the public to explore the galleries with one of our knowledgeable docents.
Each dynamic\, interactive tour will end in our bright and spacious Art S
tudio\, where students will engage in a hands-on project related to the th
eme of the day. Homeschool Days are designed with a school aged audience i
n mind\, and families with young children are encouraged to make use of bo
oks\, games\, and self-guided art projects in the Family ArtLab while regi
stered students take part in the day&rsquo\;s activities. Space is limited
to 30 students\, and pre-registration is required. Payment is due at time
of preregistration. To pre-register or for more information\, please cont
act Katy\, Coordinator of School &amp\; Family Programs\, at matsuzakik@nb
maa.org or (860) 229-0257\, ext. 220.

Join us in the Living Room for mah-jongg instruction with te
acher Linda Korsko!\nMar. 10: Learn the game.\nMar. 17: Play t
he game.\nMai Tais will be served. Advanced and intermediate players
also welcome to join and play during the lessons.

Popular author Maggie Anton will be visiting the JCC to talk
about her new novel Enchantress. Suggested donation $6.

\n\n

Fantast
ic tales of demons and the Evil Eye\, magical incantations\, and powerful
attractions abound in Enchantress\, a novel that weaves together Talmudic
lore\, ancient Jewish magic\, and a timeless love story set in fourth-cent
ury Babylonia.

Fantast
ic tales of demons and the Evil Eye\, magical incantations\, and powerful
attractions abound in Enchantress\, a novel that weaves together Talmudic
lore\, ancient Jewish magic\, and a timeless love story set in fourth-cent
ury Babylonia.

The New Britain Public Library will continue its celebration
of Women'\;s History Month with a free program on Women'\;s Work in
World War II with guest speaker and author John Cilio. This multi-media p
resentation will showcase vintage photos and highlight personal stories of
women'\;s experiences entering the workforce during World War II and t
eh contributions they made on behalf of the wartime effort.

Don Felder is renowned as a former lead guitarist of The Eag
les\, one of the most popular and influential rock groups of our time. The
band&rsquo\;s record-setting compilation Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)
sold over 29 million copies in the U.S. alone and was awarded by the&nbsp\
;RIAA&nbsp\;the top-selling album of the 20th Century. A member of The Roc
k and Roll Hall of Fame since 1998\, Felder served as a member of The Eagl
es for 27 years\, putting his mark on numerous Eagles milestones

\n\n

Visit our website for more information and tickets:&nbsp\;&nbsp\;http://r
idgefieldplayhouse.org/event/don-felder-evening-hotel-california#sthash.V5
JA9QIo.dpuf

Relive the journey of country music legend\, Tammy Wynette\,
from the cotton fields of Itawamba\, Mississippi\, to international super
stardom\, including the five husbands she stood by. Among the 26 songs are
&quot\;D-I-V-O-R-C-E\,&quot\; &quot\;Til I Can Make It On My Own&quot
\; and &quot\;Golden Ring.&quot\;&nbsp\;Stand By Your Man ru
ns from March 18th to April 5th. Show times are &nbsp\;Weds. &amp\; Sun. 2
p.m.\, Weds. &amp\; Thurs. 7:30 p.m.\, Fri. &amp\; Sat. 8 p.m.

Ted Henken\, PhD\, will speak at the World Affairs Forum on
March 18 at the Ernest A. DiMattia\, Jr. Main Library (Ferguson Library)\,
Third Floor Auditorium in Stamford on &ldquo\;The Future of US-Cuba Econo
mic Relations: Obama Has Opened The Door\, But Is Raul Castro Willing To E
nter? &rdquo\;. The program will begin at 5:45 P.M. with networking and re
freshments\, followed by the presentation at 6:15. The program will conclu
de at 7:30 P.M.

\n\n

Professor Henken is currently Associate Professo
r of Sociology and Latin American Studies at CUNY Baruch. He is also an ac
complished author\, his latest book &ldquo\;Entrepreneurial Cuba: The Chan
ging Policy Landscape&rdquo\;\, co-authored with the eminent Canadian econ
omist Archibald R.M. Ritter\, was published in January 2015. Henken is als
o the author of the blog\, &quot\;El Yuma&quot\;.

\n\n

Henken is Pres
ident Ex-Officio of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (AS
CE) and is frequently interviewed by leading international newspapers and
media outlets on Cuba\, including The New York Times\, The Ch
ristian Science Monitor\, CNBC\, the AP\, Reute
rs\, The Miami Herald\, the Wall Street Journal\, NPR and the BBC'\;s &quot\;The World&quot\; program\, among oth
ers. He has also served as a consultant about Cuba for Freedom House\, The
Boston Red Sox\, CNN\, and the U.S. Department of State.

The cost for admission to
the event is $20 per person for the general public and is free for 2014-2
015 Forum and AR Series members\, faculty and students. The Ferguson Libra
ry is located at the corner of Broad and Bedford Streets in Stamford. &nbs
p\;For reservations please contact the World Affairs Forum at 203-356-0340
or email info@worldaffairsforum.org.&nbsp\;

\n\n

The World Affairs F
orum is a non-profit\, non-partisan organization dedicated to expanding un
derstanding of global affairs and America&rsquo\;s role in the world. The
Forum is an affiliate of the World Affairs Councils of America.

Women will be the topic of conversation March 19 at the West
port Historical Society when Sherri Daley hosts a program inspired by &ldq
uo\;What We Talk About When We&rsquo\;re Over 60\,&rdquo\; a book she co-a
uthored with former college roommate Linda Hughes.

\n\n

&ldquo\;Over
60&rdquo\; is a response to the idea that women of a certain age become in
visible\, to men\, in the workplace and to the world in general\, Daley sa
ys. She notes that women over 60 make up 20 percent of the 157 million fem
ales in the U.S. and that while &ldquo\;they might be invisible\, they sti
ll have a voice.&rdquo\; &ldquo\;What We Talk About\,&rdquo\; she says\, g
ives them a platform.

\n\n

Published in June of 2014\, the book is a
collection of essays by Daley\, Hughes and 28 other women on such topics a
s sex\, facelifts\, falling in love\, marriage\, widowhood and more. &ldqu
o\;Some are so wonderful I wanted to cry afterward\,&rdquo\; said Daley\,
an English teacher who also writes a blog and book reviews on her website\
, www.sherridaley.com.

\n\n

In addition to Daley\, three or four of t
he book&rsquo\;s contributors from this area will read from their essays a
t the March 19 event. The program will then be thrown open to the floor fo
r questions and comments from the audience. Daley hopes women of all ages\
, and men as well\, will come out to share their stories. Hughes\, who liv
es and teaches in Atlanta\, will not be present.

\n\n

Daley&rsquo\;s
chapter for &ldquo\;Over 60&rdquo\; talks about &ldquo\;an old boyfriend t
our&rdquo\; in which she flew to California and back to her home state of
Michigan to see a former high school squeeze. The writer says she called a
head first rather than show up unannounced to avoid any awkwardness. &ldqu
o\;The wives were accepting\,&rdquo\; says Daley\, who is twice divorced a
nd didn&rsquo\;t have to fret about pushback on her own home front. &ldquo
\;Each encounter was different\,&rdquo\; she says\, &ldquo\;some hurtful\,
some wonderful.&rdquo\;

\n\n

The authors have their own &ldquo\;What
We Talk About&rdquo\; Facebook page that invites both women and men to po
st their own stories.

\n\n

A $10 donation\, and reservations are sugg
ested: (203) 222-1424. &nbsp\;Reception will follow the presentation. For
more information about the WHS\, go to westporthistory.org.

Come celebrate all things Irish as the Essex Library proudly
presents the celebrated musical duo Ringrose &amp\; Freeman for an evenin
g of Irish and Celtic music. This unique Celtic duo combines fiddler Jeann
e Freeman\, whose playing has been described as effortlessly virtuosic\, &
mdash\; and singer/guitarist Dan Ringrose\, whose voice has been called &l
dquo\;stunning.&rdquo\; Together\, they bring a lively freshness to tradit
ional and original tunes and songs\, along with stories\, poetry\, and hum
or. Both are on the faculty of the Connecticut Academy of Irish Music and
have been featured on Connecticut Public Television\, at the Greater Hartf
ord Irish Festival\, and in many other venues.

Please join us for the opportunity to learn about the proces
s\, engage with other women pursuing motherhood and receive support and gu
idance in a confidential setting.\n\nTopics may include:\n- Choosing a sperm donor\n- Talking to friends\, family
and co-workers\n- Creating a strong support system\n- What do I tell my child?\n\nThis session will be facilitated
by Melissa Kelleher\, LCSW.\n\nRSVP to Courtney:\nchutchinson@rmact.com

Join local author Wick Griswold as he uncovers the history o
f Griswold Point in Old Lyme\, Connecticut. Griswold Point\, nestled at th
e mouth of the Connecticut River\, boasts a rich history deeply intertwine
d with America&rsquo\;s own. Since 1640\, when Matthew Griswold I was gran
ted the land by Colonel George Fenwick\, many prominent Americans have cal
led The Point home. In 1798\, Congressman Roger Griswold fought fellow Con
gressman Matthew Lyon on the floor of the House. In 1899\, Florence Griswo
ld&rsquo\;s boarding house evolved into a vibrant artist&rsquo\;s colony f
or the American Impressionist movement. From colonial governors and judges
to adventurers and sea captains\, denizens of The Point have played key r
oles in America&rsquo\;s history.

Wind down after work with a 40-min. show and a glass of a wi
ne. Explore Bach&rsquo\;s &ldquo\;Suite No. 3 for Solo Cello&rdquo\; (perf
ormed by Philip Boulanger)&nbsp\; and Xenakis&rsquo\; &ldquo\;Mikka&rdquo\
; (performed by Gregory Tompkins) in a relaxed&nbsp\; setting\, and discov
er what makes&nbsp\; the music brilliant. Music Haven 117 Whalley Ave.\, N
ew Haven\, CT Admission: $8 ($5 students/seniors)

Ladies\, please join us in the Living Room for cocktails and
girl talk about raising your modern Jewish or interfaith family. This is
the place to learn about the holidays and how to adapt it to fit your fami
ly'\;s needs. Age: 21+

The Southern Comfort Band was formed with one goal in mind:
To bring true American Southern Rock music back to the people who love it.
The boys in Southern Comfort believed there was a void in the music world
and felt it was their duty to fill it. The band prides itself on its auth
entic reproductions of classic Southern Rock anthems from bands like Lynyr
d Skynyrd\, The Allman Brothers Band\, The Marshall Tucker Band\, The Outl
aws\, Molly Hatchet\, and others.&nbsp\;

An evening of Spirit with James Van Praagh.&nbsp\; Internati
onally renowned #1 New York Times&reg\; Best Selling Author of &lsquo\;Tal
king to Heaven&rsquo\; and &lsquo\;Reaching to Heaven&rsquo\; Van Praagh i
s considered a pioneer in the mediumship movement throughout the world\, a
nd has been frequently recognized as one of the most accurate spiritual me
diums working today.

\n\n

Visit our website for more information and
to purchase tickets:&nbsp\;http://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/james-van-
praagh#sthash.5mOZchC5.dpuf

The journey of our life takes us to places we never anticipa
ted and asks us to mature as persons. Then we truly see what we are being
invited into and who is inviting us. Come to this welcoming atmosphere of
simplicity\, beauty and acceptance to explore the questions\, delights and
challenges of this second coming of age.

The 4th Annual Connecticut Printmakers Invitational (CPI) wi
ll open with a public reception on Saturday March 21\, from&nbsp\;6 &ndash
\; 9 p.m. at Hygienic Art\, 79 Bank Street\, New London\, and will run til
l&nbsp\;April 18.

\n\n

The impetus for the creation of this Annual Co
nnecticut Printmakers Invitational came into being as a way to foster unde
rstanding and appreciation of the art of printmaking.&nbsp\; As printmakin
g is often the most poorly understand of the fine art disciplines\, it is
especially important to take it straight from the presses and bring it to
the people of Connecticut. Art enthusiasts are given the opportunity to ap
preciate the different printmaking techniques from etching to lithography
and understand the tremendous skill and craft that goes into producing a p
rint. This exhibit is held in a different part of Connecticut and differen
t gallery each year in order to share printmaking with as many Connecticut
residents as possible. The professional printmakers invited to exhibit in
this show also come from Connecticut and the high quality work they displ
ay varies greatly in their subject matter and technique.

Byrd'\;s Books will host New York Times bestselling autho
r Garth Stein at 6:30 p.m. in the Ruth Haas Library on the WCSU Midtown ca
mpus\, 181 White St. in Danbury. Stein will read from and discuss his new
novel\, &quot\;A Sudden Light.&quot\; A question-and-answer period and boo
ksigning will follow. The public is invited. For more information\, call (
203) 730-2973.

With Tchaikovsky&rsquo\;s famous\, lyrical score\, Swan Lake
depicts the tragic love between Princess Odette and Prince Siegfried\, an
d will no doubt be performed to perfection by the unparalleled virtuosity
of Russia&rsquo\;s great Bolshoi Ballet. This universal and enchanting mas
terpiece of love\, deception and drama is a must. In the leading parts &md
ash\; Svetlana Zakharova\, Denis Rodkin and Artemy Belyakov.

\n\n

See
more at: http://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/bolshoi-ballet-swan-lake#st
hash.y4A4qESH.dpuf

\n\n

FREE tickets for students 18 &amp\; under! &n
bsp\;Must show ID at the box office.

W
HAT: Dust off those dancin&rsquo\; boots and join us for an evening of cou
ntry dancing\, dinner and drinks to support the rescue horses of Connectic
ut Draft Horse Rescue. Line dancing lessons from 6-7pm\, a full catered bu
ffet\, then dance the night away to country music spun by a DJ donated by
Country 92.5&rsquo\;s John &ldquo\;Cadillac&rdquo\; Seville! Raffles\, liv
e auction\, cash bar and more!

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

WHEN: Saturday\
, March 21\, 2015\; 6pm &lsquo\;til whenever!

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

WHERE: Angelico&rsquo\;s Lakehouse

\n\n

&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&
nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\; 81 North Ma
in St.

On two weekends in March\, CitySingers will present Celtic F
ire\, an exploration of the sacred Celtic&nbsp\;tradition that will ignite
the imagination with captivating folk melodies\, soulful chants\, ancient
rhythms&nbsp\;and entrancing poetry. CitySingers of Hartford will trace t
his tradition from its earliest roots and feature&nbsp\;compositions by ce
lebrated composers such as Turlough O'\;Carolan\, Sean O'\;Riada\, a
nd Michael McGlynn.&nbsp\;

This musical version of&nbsp\;Rudyard&nbsp\;Kipl
ing&rsquo\;s classic will delight both the young and the young at heart.&n
bsp\; Come be part of the adventure!&nbsp\;Join young Mowgli as he learns
the &lsquo\;Laws&rsquo\; of the jungle in this time-honored adventure.&nbs
p\; With the help of friends like the black panther\, Bagheera\, and Baloo
the lovable bear\, Mowgli learns about friendship and survival.&nbsp\;

Entry Rules: &nbsp\;Works must be origi
nal and executed by artists from the Northeast (Connecticut\, Massachusett
s\, Rhode Island\, Vermont\, New Hampshire\, Maine\, New Jersey\, Pennsylv
ania\, New York) who can hand deliver their pieces upon acce
ptance. Media includes oils\, watercolors\, drawings\, mixed media\, graph
ics and sculpture not previously shown at the Ely House.
No
photography\, computer art\, giclee prints\, installation art\, crafts or
work done under the supervision of an instructor. Wall-hung work must be s
ecurely wired for hanging and must not exceed 60 pounds i
n weight. Watercolors\, pastels and graphics must be framed and under glass.<
/span>&nbsp\;No brackets or wet work. Works must not exceed 48 inc
hes in width\, exclusive of frame and must be stable to be exhibited. Sculptors must bring their own pedestals.

\n

Entry Fees: Artists may enter up to two works (2 jpeg. images) @ $15 each
. Sculptors may also submit up to two works @ $15 each (with 2 jpeg. views
allowed for each piece). **Active members of the NHP&amp\;CC who have pai
d their dues byJanuary 15 may submit their fi
rst entry FREE. Dues paid after November 1 are $25.

Awards: Prizes totaling in excess o
f $3600 to be awarded at this exhibition. Additional funds are available f
or purchases to the Club&rsquo\;s Permanent Collection.

\n

Commission: The New Haven Paint and Clay Club takes a 20% commission on s
ales made during the exhibit. When work is purchased for the Club&rsquo\;s
Permanent Collection\, the artist receives 80% of the catalogue price. NF
S is allowed but no POR.

\n\n

Juror: Nationally exhibiting
artist and educator\, Will Lustenader will jury the show.

\n\n

How to apply: Artists may submit their entries to www.OnlineJuriedShows.com. For the best results\, please submit a high-q
uality image under 5MB. Help in photographing your work\, properly sizing
your images or entering your images can be found at www.OnLineJuriedShows.com/help.aspx &nbsp\;or by calling 949-287
-8645.

\n\n

Artwork Delivery: All accepted work must be del
ivered to the Ely House on Thursday\, March 12\, 6 &ndash
\; 8 pm or Saturday\, March 14\, 9 am to noon. No shipped entries. The juror
has the right to refuse any work that he/she feels was misrepresented in t
he jpeg submission.

\n\n

End of Show Pick-up: All work mus
t be picked up from the Ely House on Saturday\, April 12\
, 5 &ndash\; 6 pm or Monday\, April 13\, 9am &ndash\; noon.<
/p>\n\n

<
span style='font-size: 15px\; font-family: Calibri\; font-weight: bold\; v
ertical-align: baseline\; white-space: pre-wrap\; background-color: transp
arent\;'>Artists Please Note: Every precaution will be taken to protect entri
es\, but the NHP&amp\;CC and the Ely House will not be responsible for los
s or damage from any cause whatsoever. The NHP&amp\;CC may use artists&rsq
uo\; images for non-commercial show publicity. Acceptance into this exhibi
tion implies agreement with these conditions.

\n\n

*
*Active Membership: After an artist has his/her work admitted into TWO separa
te juried exhibits\, they become eligible and are invited to Active Member
ship in the Club.

Keep celebrating St. Patrick'\;s Day at the Milford Libra
ry on Sunday\, March 22 at 2 PM!&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\; The Kerry Boys\, Con
necticut'\;s favorite Irish balladeers\, will be singing and playing al
l your Celtic favorites!&nbsp\;&nbsp\; Everyone is welcome!

On two weekends in March\,&nbsp\;CitySingers&nbsp\;will pres
ent Celtic Fire\, an exploration of the sacred Celtic&nbsp\;tradition that
will ignite the imagination with captivating folk melodies\, soulful chan
ts\, ancient rhythms&nbsp\;and entrancing poetry.&nbsp\;CitySingers&nbsp\;
of Hartford will trace this tradition from its earliest roots and feature&
nbsp\;compositions by celebrated composers such as&nbsp\;Turlough&nbsp\;O&
#39\;Carolan\, Sean&nbsp\;O'\;Riada\, and Michael&nbsp\;McGlynn.&nbsp\;

You are cordially invited to a night of pampering and indul
gence for Ladies Only at Miranda Vineyard. $25 includes a glass of wine\,
Chair/Hand massage\, Psychic Reading\, Chocolate covered strawberries\, ch
eese fondue and more... Reserve now. This event sells out fast!

Join Mark D. Mitchell as he discusses the
relatively unknown artist Otis Kaye who was a culminating figure in the hi
story and evolution of trompe l&rsquo\;oeil painting in America f
rom its golden age in the later nineteenth century until the mid-twentieth
. Adapting and combining the techniques and inventions of his predecessors
\, Kaye introduced his own variation&mdash\;the calligram&mdash\;that furt
her enhanced the tradition&rsquo\;s range. He pushed still life&rsquo\;s s
cale and complexity\, especially in the number and interaction of symbolic
details that fill his most intricate compositions. He developed compositi
ons that delved into the nature of financial markets and the economy\, as
well as into the meaning of art and its significance to society. Unknown a
s an artist in his lifetime\, Kaye nevertheless left behind an astonishing
record of accomplishment that synthesized the long history of trompe
l&rsquo\;oeil painting in America.

Fertility Essentials | Fertility Testing&nbsp\;\n\nA blood test is now able
to tell women\, more easily than ever before\, about their potential to be
come pregnant. This blood test\, known as Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH)\, h
elps doctors determine your chances of becoming pregnant now and in the fu
ture.&nbsp\;\n\n
FREE testing&nbsp\;is now available from RMA of Connecticut! There will be
a brief presentation and a blood test. (You can take the test while on th
e birth control pill or at any time during your menstrual cycle).&nbsp\;\n\nOur doctors an
d nurses will be present to discuss how AMH testing can indicate reproduct
ive health. Participants will receive a call from an RMACT clinical staff
member with test results within 10 business days.&nbsp\;\n\nPlease join us! Get the inform
ation you need to plan for your future family. Light refreshments will be
served.&nbsp\;\n
Tickets for this free event are available&nbsp\;here!&nbsp\;Please RSVP.
p>\n\n\nPhone: 2037507400\n\n761 Main Avenue\, Suite 200\nNorwalk\, CT\n06
851\n\n
DTSTART:20150324T170000
DTEND:20150324T190000
LOCATION:Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut
PRIORITY:
SUMMARY:Free AMH Fertility Testing Event
URL:http://www.rmact.com/AMH
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:19390_20@www.connecticutmag.com
DTSTAMP:20150303T200325Z
CATEGORIES:ETCETERA
CONTACT:Sherri Hill
DESCRIPTION:

Tom Szaky\, CEO and founder of TerraCycle\, will discuss &qu
ot\;Revolutionary Solutions: The Creative Power of Green&quot\; at 7 p.m.
in the Veronica Hagman Concert Hall in the Visual and Performing Arts Cent
er on the WCSU Westside campus\, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. The ta
lk will be free and the public is invited.

America'\;s most popular modern dance company returns to
The Bushnell for the first time in 11 years!

\n\n

Alvin Ailey America
n Dance Theater has always been known for its vibrant fusion of dance styl
es. The company returns with programs that include some of its newest work
s as well as classics like Revelations\, Alvin Ailey&rsquo\;s undisputed m
asterpiece\, inspired by blues\, spirituals and gospel. More than just a p
opular dance work\, Revelations has become a cultural treasure\, beloved b
y generations of fans.

Recognize
d by U.S. Congressional resolution as a vital American &quot\;Cultural Amb
assador to the World\,&quot\; Ailey grew from a now-fabled performance in
March 1958 at New York City&rsquo\;s 92nd Street Y. Led by Alvin Ailey and
a group of young African-American modern dancers\, that performance chang
ed forever the perception of American dance. Elegant\, electrifying and ma
rvelously athletic\, the company has performed for an estimated 25 million
people in 48 states and 71 countries on six continents &ndash\; and to mi
llions more through television broadcasts. Program subject to change.

The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters will display their usu
al fun and high-spirited showmanship during a game at 7 p.m. in the Feldma
n Arena at the O'\;Neill Center on the WCSU Westside campus\, 43 Lake A
ve. Extension in Danbury. For more information\, go to http://wcsu.showare
.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=8. Game tickets and Magic Pass tickets are
available at (203) 837-TIXX or www.wcsu.edu/tickets.

America'\;s most popular modern dance company returns to
The Bushnell for the first time in 11 years!

\n\n

Alvin Ailey America
n Dance Theater has always been known for its vibrant fusion of dance styl
es. The company returns with programs that include some of its newest work
s as well as classics like Revelations\, Alvin Ailey&rsquo\;s undisputed m
asterpiece\, inspired by blues\, spirituals and gospel. More than just a p
opular dance work\, Revelations has become a cultural treasure\, beloved b
y generations of fans.

Recognize
d by U.S. Congressional resolution as a vital American &quot\;Cultural Amb
assador to the World\,&quot\; Ailey grew from a now-fabled performance in
March 1958 at New York City&rsquo\;s 92nd Street Y. Led by Alvin Ailey and
a group of young African-American modern dancers\, that performance chang
ed forever the perception of American dance. Elegant\, electrifying and ma
rvelously athletic\, the company has performed for an estimated 25 million
people in 48 states and 71 countries on six continents &ndash\; and to mi
llions more through television broadcasts. Program subject to change.

Join the Noah Webster House &amp\; West Hartford Historical
Society for a community discussion on the use of&nbsp\;Native American wor
ds and imagery in&nbsp\;mascots and logos . This national debate recently
hit home with both Hall and Conard High Schools deciding whether or not to
change their team logos. Others have encouraged the schools to go further
and rename their teams.

\n\n

A panel of experts\, including Liz Devi
ne (Hall High School Social Studies)\, Dr. Tracey Wilson (Conard High Scho
ol Social Studies)\, and Laurie Lamarre (Executive Director of the America
n Indian Institute) will each present their argument\, then join a panel d
iscussion.

\n\n

Conversations: A Community Forum is free to the publi
c thanks to a grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

To celebrate Women&rsquo\;s History
Month\, the Women Making History event will raise awareness and funding fo
r women and two local organizations that support them &ndash\; Women&rsquo
\;s Mentoring Network\, Inc. (www.wmninc.org) and the Stamford Art Associa
tion (www.stamfordartassociation.org).&nbsp\; Sponsored by Charles Schwab\
, the event will be held on Tuesday\, March 24\, 2015 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.
m. at the Stamford Art Association\, 39 Franklin St.\, Stamford\, CT.

\n

The event will feature artwork by Lorie Miller\, fashions and accesso
ries from the Alloro Collection (www.allorocollection.com) and jewelry by
AJ Designs (http://aj-designs.weebly.com/index.html).&nbsp\; The event wil
l also include a Silent Auction and Raffle.

\n\n

The Stamford-based W
omen'\;s Mentoring Network is a non-profit organization providing e
ducational\, career and personal resources that lead to sustainable econom
ic security for low-income women and their families in lower Fairfiel
d County.

\n\n

The Stamford Art Association is a nonprofit art organi
zation that has a gallery with 8 ongoing annual juried exhibits where stud
ents\, emerging and professional artists can display their work.&nbsp\; SA
A also sponsors 4 annual exhibits at the Ferguson Library to display work
by local artists.

\n\n

Tickets are available for $20 and can be purch
ased in advance at http://sendomatic.com/WMHEvent.&nbsp\;&nbsp\; Tickets w
ill also be available at the door on the evening of the event. &nbsp\;For
more information\, please contact Lana Gifas\, Women&rsquo\;s Mentoring Ne
twork at (203) 348-3828&nbsp\;or Christine Irvin\, Stamford Art Associatio
n\, (203) 325-1139.

\n\n

About Charles Schwab: At Charles Schwab &amp
\; Co.\, Inc.\, Member SIPC\, we believe in the power of investing to help
individuals create a better tomorrow. We have a history of challenging th
e status quo in our industry\, innovating in ways that benefit investors a
nd the advisors and employers who serve them\, and championing our clients
'\; goals with passion and integrity.

\n\n

Schwab&rsquo\;s branch
in Stamford\, located at 300 Atlantic Street\, offers area residents acces
s to a range of investing and personal finances guidance\, service and pro
ducts.&nbsp\;

The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters will display their usu
al fun and high-spirited showmanship during a game at 7 p.m. in the Feldma
n Arena at the O'\;Neill Center on the WCSU Westside campus\, 43 Lake A
ve. Extension in Danbury. For more information\, go to http://wcsu.showare
.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=8. Game tickets and Magic Pass tickets are
available at (203) 837-TIXX or www.wcsu.edu/tickets.

Sit down\, kick back\, and enjoy a delicious glass of wine w
ith a side of chocolate. On Wednesday\, March 25 from 7-8:30 p.m.\, enjoy
a wine and chocolate pairing class at the Noah Webster House &amp\; West H
artford Historical Society. The event was rescheduled from February 12.

\n\n

Steve Leon of Wine Cellars 4 (68 Farmington Avenue\, Farmington) a
nd Mary Anne Charron of Cocoa Chi will give a lesson on pairing the perfec
t bottle with the perfect box of chocolates. Guests will try six varieties
of each over the course of the evening. These will include dark and milk
chocolate tastings featuring chocolate with pralines\, dark chocolate truf
fles\, and white chocolate with raspberry ganache. Wine pairings will incl
ude Shiraz\, Zinfandel\, Port\, and Muscat among others.

\n\n

The eve
nt is $20 for museum members and Let*s GO Arts members and $25 for the gen
eral public. Visit www.noahwebsterhouse.org or call 860-521-5362 x21 for r
eservations (required).&nbsp\;

Sadia Shepard &rsquo\;97 presents her documentary film &ldqu
o\;The Other Half of Tomorrow\,&rdquo\; which looks at contemporary Pakist
an through the perspective of dynamic female change-makers: artists\, acti
vists\, educators\, politicians\, and athletes. This event is part of &ldq
uo\;Muslim Women&rsquo\;s Voices at Wesleyan.&rdquo\;

Michael Bolton is a multiple Grammy Award-winning Singer\, S
ongwriter who has sold more than 53 million records around the world\, whe
re he continues to tour every year. To date\, Michael has seen eight studi
o albums rank in the Top Ten\, with nine #1 singles

\n\n

For more inf
ormation and to purchase tickets\, visit our website:&nbsp\;http://ridgefi
eldplayhouse.org/event/michael-bolton#sthash.ZNqsnDXp.dpuf

A reception for seniors Raphael Leitz\, Nita Mukand\, Luca A
meri\, Derrick Qi Wang\, and Dat Vu in the Art Studio Program of Wesleyan&
rsquo\;s Department of Art and Art History. The students&rsquo\; work will
be exhibited in the gallery from Tuesday\, March 24 through Sunday\, Marc
h 29\, 2015. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday\, Noon to 5pm.

\n\n<
p>Who is Vivian Maier? Now considered one of the 20th century'\;s great
est street photographers\, Vivian Maier was a mysterious nanny who secretl
y took over 100\,000 photographs that went unseen during her lifetime. Sin
ce buying her work by chance at auction\, amateur historian John Maloof ha
s crusaded to put this prolific photographer in the history books. Maier
39\;s strange and riveting life and art are revealed through never-before-
seen photographs\, films\, and interviews with dozens who thought they kne
w her.\n\n\nPhone: 860-229-0257\n\n56 Lexington Street\nNew Britain\,
CT\n06052\n\n
DTSTART:20150326T160000
DTEND:20150326T000000
LOCATION:New Britain Museum of American Art
PRIORITY:
SUMMARY:Film: Finding Vivian Maier (84 min.)
URL:http://www.nbmaa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:19624_20@www.connecticutmag.com
DTSTAMP:20150303T200325Z
CATEGORIES:ETCETERA
CONTACT:Cindy Riccio
DESCRIPTION:

In 1918\, Edna Purtell of West Hartford was arrested four ti
mes in one day in Washington D.C. while demonstrating for woman'\;s rig
ht to vote. That\, and for climbing Lafayette&rsquo\;s statue crying &ldqu
o\;Lafayette\, we are here!&rdquo\;&nbsp\;Purportedly\, a prison guard bro
ke two of Purtell&rsquo\;s fingers when she refused to remove her green\,
purple-and-white-suffragist sash while in jail. According to historian Tra
cey Wilson\, the history of woman&rsquo\;s suffrage in the Nutmeg State is
filled with interesting women\, ranging from the young Purtell to Kathari
ne Houghton Hepburn (mother of the actress). Wilson will discuss Connectic
ut&rsquo\;s most fascinating suffragists in the Webb Barn at the Webb-Dean
e-Stevens Museum in honor of Women&rsquo\;s History Month. The free lectur
e is preceded by a wine reception\, by donation\, at 6:00 p.m.

\n\n

N
inety-five years after ratification of the 19th Amendment\, contemporary w
omen may not be aware that their gender was far from united in their appro
ach to gaining the right to vote. Wilson will demonstrate how the woman&rs
quo\;s movement in Connecticut took many forms: the movement split\, rejoi
ned and split again.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

During her presentation\,
Wilson will explain the two main arguments in the justification for suffr
age. One view was that women were different from men&ndash\;more moral\, c
aring and likely to vote based on social issues&ndash\;and they could clea
n up the political process. The second popularly held opinion was that wom
en were the same as men\, and suffrage was a fight for justice

Cassandra Wilson\, perhaps the greatest living jazz singer\, comes to T
he Playhouse to offer a special tribute concert to Billie Holiday on the c
entennial of Lady Day&rsquo\;s birth. Wilson has the goods to honor Holida
y:&nbsp\;TIME&nbsp\;magazine recognized her as &ldquo\;America&rsquo\;s be
st singer&rdquo\; and &ldquo\;the true heir of Billie Holiday and Sarah Va
ughan.&rdquo\;

\n\n

Visit our website for more information and to pur
chase tickets:&nbsp\;http://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/cassandra-wilson
-0#sthash.MmRvAmEA.dpuf

Thursday\, March 26 Wilton Library&rsquo\;s Wine Tasting Ben
efit &amp\; Restaurant Showcase\, 7 &ndash\; 8:30 p.m. Please join us for
the Sixth Annual Wilton Library Wine Tasting Benefit &amp\; Restaurant Sho
wcase\, a delightful evening benefiting Wilton Library. Sample wines from
around the world\, courtesy of New Canaan Wine Merchants. Tasting notes an
d an overview will add to the evening&rsquo\;s enjoyment along with wonder
ful hors d'\;oeuvres (chosen to complement the wines) provided by some
of Wilton&rsquo\;s finest restaurants and food purveyors. 10% of all sales
from the evening will also benefit the library (free wine delivery is ava
ilable from New Canaan Wine Merchants).&nbsp\; Tickets are $50 per person
and can be purchased in advance by calling Jennifer Wallace at 203-762-395
0 ext. 239\, downloading the registration form from the library&rsquo\;s w
ebsite and returning it to the Development Office\, or by visiting the lib
rary&rsquo\;s Circulation Desk and registering.&nbsp\; Tickets can be purc
hased at the door on the day of the event\, providing space is available.&
nbsp\; We are limited to 125 people\, so don&rsquo\;t miss out on this won
derful event and purchase your tickets in advance! Wilton Library\, 137 Ol
d Ridgefield Road\, Wilton\; www.wiltonlibrary.org\; (203) 762-3950.

Inspired by anthropological theories of gift-giving\, Jolie
Stahl and Robert Dannin recently donated a collection of 69 prints\, photo
graphs\, and multiples to the Davison Art Center. The exhibition &ldquo\;P
ersonal Recollections&rdquo\; will highlight this fascinating gift\, which
includes artwork from New York in the 1980s and 1990s\, and iconic news p
hotographs from members of the Magnum Photos cooperative. The exhibition i
ncludes prints and multiples by Barbara Kruger\, Richard Mock\, and Kiki S
mith\, as well as photographs by Eve Arnold\, Stuart Franklin\, Steve McCu
rry\, Nan Goldin\, and Sebasti&atilde\;o Salgado.

The WCSU Jazz Combos will perform at 8 p.m. in the Veronica
Hagman Concert Hall of the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the univer
sity'\;s Westside campus\, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. The conce
rt will be free and the public is invited. Donations to support the Depart
ment of Music will be accepted. For a complete list of similar SVPA events
\, visit www.wcsu.edu/svpa/events.asp.

\n\n<
p>Who is Vivian Maier? Now considered one of the 20th century'\;s great
est street photographers\, Vivian Maier was a mysterious nanny who secretl
y took over 100\,000 photographs that went unseen during her lifetime. Sin
ce buying her work by chance at auction\, amateur historian John Maloof ha
s crusaded to put this prolific photographer in the history books. Maier
39\;s strange and riveting life and art are revealed through never-before-
seen photographs\, films\, and interviews with dozens who thought they kne
w her.\n\n\nPhone: 860-229-0257\n\n56 Lexington Street\nNew Britain\,
CT\n06052\n\n
DTSTART:20150326T130000
DTEND:20150326T000000
LOCATION:New Britain Museum of American Art
PRIORITY:
SUMMARY:Film: Finding Vivian Maier (84 min.)
URL:http://www.nbmaa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:19407_20@www.connecticutmag.com
DTSTAMP:20150303T200325Z
CATEGORIES:ETCETERA
CONTACT:Ann Thompson
DESCRIPTION:

Friday\, March 27 at 7 p.m.
at the Essex Town Hall\nWe would begin to understand femal
e genius in architecture and design by going back in time to such luminari
es as Marion Mahoney Griffin\, Mary Colter\, Julia Morgan\, and Eileen Gra
y &ndash\; all of whom are women that practiced architecture and delved in
to design very seriously in the early decades of the 20th century. From th
ese women mentioned above\, we will chronologically explore other mid-cent
ury &amp\; late century masters such as Gae Aulenti\, Billy Tsien\, Zaha H
adid\, and Jean Gang &ndash\; three of these last four practicing architec
ture in the 21st century currently. All these women defied the odds of thi
s largely historically male-dominated profession\, and are all noteworthy
practitioners on a world-class level of the profession.

\n\n

Dr. Bens
on has been teaching Art and Architectural History for more than twenty fi
ve years at various universities and has led groups to explore iconic plac
es and buildings in America\, Italy\, England\, France\, Germany\, Greece\
, Turkey\, and elsewhere.

\n\n

His lecture credits include MOMA\, Get
ty Museum in Los Angeles\, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Bost
on. He studied the history of art and architecture at Yale\, and holds adv
anced degrees from Columbia University. He also has studied at Cambridge a
nd Oxford.

\n\n

Dr. Benson currently serves as the Director of Colora
do Operations\, and Head of Design for a group that specializes in the arc
hitecture and engineering of Satellite Operations Centers and Mission Cont
rol Stations. He currently teaches as an Adjunct Professor at the Universi
ty of Colorado\, Colorado Springs\, and has taught at the Colorado College
and the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center.

Award-winning Pantochino Productions presents this original
musical for the entire family! The Brothers Grimm are live on stage presen
ting their best loved fairy tales with the assistance of a glittering Show
girl! The ridiculously entertaining musical features spoofs and goofs of S
now White\, Little Red Riding Hood\, Snow White\, Rapunzel and many more!
Performances Friday at 7:30pm\, Saturday at 2 &amp\; 5:30pm and Sunday at
2pm. All seats $18 online\, $20 at the door. www.pantochino.com

For The Outlaw
s\, it was always about the music. For 40 years\, the Southern Rock legend
s celebrated triumphs\, endured tragedies and survived legal nightmares to
remain one of the most influential and best-loved bands of the genre. Kno
wn for their triple-guitar rock attack and three-part country harmonies\,
The Outlaws have earned a formidable reputation as an incendiary live act.

\n\n

For more information and to purchase tickets\, visit our websit
e:&nbsp\;http://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/outlaws#sthash.gfCtN4Vy.dpuf

Pat Donohue\, one of the most listened-to finger-style guita
r players in the world\, will perform at AcousticMusic.Org on Friday\, Mar
ch 27th @ 8:00pm.&nbsp\; Pat Donohue is a regular performer on A Prairie H
ome Companion.&nbsp\; Pat does a limited number of solo performances aroun
d the country each year and has agreed to join us at AcousticMusic.Org for
an evening of new\, old and original stories and music.&nbsp\; Seating is
limited and we strongly recommend reserving tickets.

Singer-songwriter Omnia Hegazy combines guitar-driven Americ
an pop/rock and maqam-based Arabic folk with charged lyrics about women&rs
quo\;s rights and political freedom\, her faith\, and the struggle to comb
at perceptions of Muslim women. The daughter of an Italian-Catholic mother
and an Egyptian-Muslim father\, she was born in California and raised on
Staten Island. At Wesleyan\, Ms. Hegazy will be accompanied by drummer May
Maples\, bassist Carl Limbacher\, electric guitarist Coyote Anderson\, an
d Natalie Perlaza on Arabic percussion.

Artist in Residence Patricia Beaman presents two exhilaratin
g world premieres. Ms. Beaman and renowned Baroque soprano Christine Brand
es embark on a seminal collaboration of their own making\, Women of Myth U
nleashed. By juxtaposing the traditional form and mythological subject mat
ter of the Baroque era with 21st century modern movement and contemporary
issues\, they bring the iconic mythological figures of Armide\, Arianna\,
and Medea into sharp relief on stage. In M&eacute\;d&eacute\;e\, Louis Nic
olas Cl&eacute\;rembault&rsquo\;s cantata from 1710\, Ms. Brandes and Ms.
Beaman depict the bifurcated nature of Medea&rsquo\;s tortured state\, wit
h electrifying music provided by Folia\, an early music ensemble of stella
r musicians. Opening the second half of the evening is The Seven Deadly Si
ns\, an inventive ensemble dance theater work choreographed and directed b
y Patricia Beaman. Radically re-envisioned as a production set in Weimar-e
ra Berlin in the seediest of cabarets\, this edgy Neo-Baroque work has bee
n specially created for Wesleyan students as part of the &ldquo\;Repertory
and Performance&rdquo\; course.

Inspired by anthropological theories of gift-giving\, Jolie
Stahl and Robert Dannin recently donated a collection of 69 prints\, photo
graphs\, and multiples to the Davison Art Center. The exhibition &ldquo\;P
ersonal Recollections&rdquo\; will highlight this fascinating gift\, which
includes artwork from New York in the 1980s and 1990s\, and iconic news p
hotographs from members of the Magnum Photos cooperative. The exhibition i
ncludes prints and multiples by Barbara Kruger\, Richard Mock\, and Kiki S
mith\, as well as photographs by Eve Arnold\, Stuart Franklin\, Steve McCu
rry\, Nan Goldin\, and Sebasti&atilde\;o Salgado.

The
WCSU Opera Ensemble will present &quot\;The Tender Land&quot\; by Aaron Co
pland at 8 p.m. on March 27 and 28\, and 3 p.m. on March 29\, in the Veron
ica Hagman Concert Hall of the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the un
iversity'\;s Westside campus\, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. Copla
nd'\;s folk opera is a depression-era coming-of-age story about a young
woman growing up in the American heartland. Full of soaring Copland melod
ies including the well-known &quot\;The Promise of Living\,&quot\; it is a
lso laced with McCarthy era political references and jabs\, which early au
diences found shocking. &quot\;The Tender Land&quot\; premiered 60 years a
go at New York City Opera\, directed by Jerome Robbins\, with Thomas Schip
pers conducting. Directed by Margaret Astrup\; Musical Direction by Fernan
do Jimenez. For tickets\, go to www.wcsu.edu/tickets or call (203) 837-TIX
X. For a complete list of similar SVPA events\, visit www.wcsu.edu/svpa/ev
ents.asp.

Join us for a lively 19th-century evening as the historic Samu
el Lay House is transformed into a&nbsp\;seaside tavern from the War of 18
12. The evening&nbsp\;will include a craft beer tasting\,&nbsp\;food pairi
ngs of early American cuisine provided by&nbsp\;Catering by Sele
ne\, tavern games and&nbsp\;raucous drinking songs and ballads.

\n

Space is limited\, reservations required.

\n\n

P
rograms at 5:30 and 7:30 PM

\n\n

Call to reserve tickets at
860-767-8269 or&nbsp\;buy online atEvenings at the Lay House.

\n\n

Tickets: $22 for museum members or $27 for general public&nbsp\;(mu
st be 21 or older and show valid ID)

The WCSU Alumni Association will host a Night at the Opera a
t 5:30 p.m. in Room 218 of the Classroom Building on the university'\;s
Westside campus\, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. The cost will includ
e dinner and a ticket to the Department of Music production of &quot\;The
Tender Land.&quot\; For more information or to make a reservation\, call (
203) 837-8298.

Join the Slater Memoria
l Museum as we travel to Lowell\, MA to visit the American Textile History
Museum!

\n\n

An affiliate of th
e Smithsonian Institution\, the American Textile History Museum in Lowell\
, MA\, tells America&rsquo\;s story through the art\, history\, and scienc
e of textiles. ATHM holds the world&rsquo\;s largest and most important co
llections of tools\, spinning wheels\, hand looms\, and early production m
achines\, as well as more than five million pieces of textile prints\, fab
ric samples\, rolled textiles coverlets\, and costumes.

\n\n

Our group will have the opportunity to view t
he special exhibition\, Artist Textiles: Picasso to Warhol\, which traces the history of 20th century art in textiles. Cur
rently on loan from the Fashion and Textile Museum in London\, the exhibit
includes highlights by Georges Braque\, Alexander Calder\, Marc Chagall\,
Salvador Dal&iacute\;\, Barbara Hepworth\, Henri Matisse\, Joan Mir&oacut
e\;\, Pablo Picasso\, Andy Warhol and many more! Artist Textiles shows how
ordinary people were once able to engage with modern art in a personal an
d intimate way through their clothing and home furnishings. With over 200
rare pieces\, many of which have never before been on public display.&nbsp
\;

&nbsp\;Proceeds benefit the programs and
services of Easter Seals\, serving the special needs of infants\, children
\, and adults with disabilities in greater Waterbury\, central\, and north
western Connecticut.&nbsp\;

Chorus Angelicus &amp\; Gaudeamus join forces with the excel
lent choirs of St. Patrick-St. Anthony church to bring to life the extraor
dinarily popular choral music of British composer John Rutter in this year
of his 70th birthday.

Program in include
s Requiem for the Living by Dan Forrest and Feel the Spirit
em> by John Rutter\, accompanied by the Connecticut Master Chorale Orchest
ra and joined by Wendy Gerbier\, mezzo-soprano soloist.

\n\n

Requ
iem for the Living was released in 2013. This powerful new setting pr
ovides an uplifting and inspiring reflection on life\, love\, loss\, renew
al\, and a celebration of eternal light. It has already received more than
a hundred performances world-wide within a year of its composition\, incl
uding venues in Canada\, South America\, Europe\, Africa\, Asia\, and mult
iple performances at Carnegie Hall.

\n\n

Feel the Spirit is
a cycle of seven well-loved spirituals\, arranged for chorus\, mezzo-sopra
no soloist and orchestra by John Rutter. &nbsp\;Rutter renditions are wond
erfully crafted and highly appealing. They are moving\, vibrant\, unique\,
and classy and range in styles from big-band and the blues to Caribbean a
nd close harmony. They include &ldquo\;Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho\,&
quot\; &quot\;Steal away\,&quot\; &quot\;I Got a Robe\,&quot\; &quot\;Some
times I Feel Like a Motherless Child\,&quot\; &quot\;Ev&rsquo\;ry Time I F
eel the Spirit\,&quot\; &quot\;Deep River\,&quot\; and a rousing rendition
of &quot\;When the Saints Go Marching In.&quot\;&nbsp\;

Join us for the 13th Annual &quot\;Chocolate to the Rescue!&
quot\; to benefit Columbus House Middlesex Family Shelter

\n\n

Help f
amilies and children experiencing homelessness while enjoying the region
39\;s finest chocolate!\n\n◆ Sample mouthwatering chocolate de
licacies from local restaurants\, bakeries\, caterers and chocolatiers\n\n◆ Observe judging from a panel of culinary experts\n\n◆ Bid on an array of silent auction items\n\n◆ Vote for yo
ur favorite chocolate creation\n\n\nTo purchase tickets
online or to sponsor the event please visit http://www.columbushouse.org/c
hocolate\n\nContact Linda at lkosko@columbushouse.org or (203)
401-4400 x150 for more information.

Authors Laurie Heiss and Jill Smyth will be talking about th
eir new book\, &quot\;The Merritt Parkway : the Road that Changed a Region
&quot\;.&nbsp\;&nbsp\; Copies of their book will be available for sale at
the event.&nbsp\;

What explains the allure of the lighthouse? Although its imp
ortance to navigation has waned\, it persists as a popular icon in America
n culture\, appearing on boxes of salt-water taffy and potato chips. Light
houses have inspired famous works of literary and visual art\, and also th
e 17th major-scale dance-theater work by the Ensemble of the Judy Dworin P
erformance Project\, which will have its premiere April 17 and 18 at the W
adsworth Atheneum Museum of Art&rsquo\;s Aetna Theater.

\n\n

Guest sp
eaker Jeremy D&rsquo\;Entremont is the historian of the A
merican Lighthouse Foundation\, author of &ldquo\;The Lighthouse Handbook:
New England\,&rdquo\; photographer\, tour guide\, and the taped voice of
a keeper in Dworin&rsquo\;s &ldquo\;Lighthouse.&rdquo\; In the discussion
following D&rsquo\;Entremont&rsquo\;s talk\, he will be joined by Susan Ta
mulevich\, Director of the New London Maritime Society and the Custom Hous
e Maritime Museum.

With Special Guest Funky Dawgz Brass Band &nbsp\; Compliment
ary wine tasting courtesy of 109 Cheese &amp\; Wine and reception with art
ist Carmelo Blandino in the lobby at 6:45pm &nbsp\; The &ldquo\;quintessen
tial New Orleans institution&rdquo\; (The New York Times) brings the sound
s of the French Quarter to Ridgefield! &nbsp\;The Preservation Hall was fo
unded in 1961 to promote traditional New Orleans jazz in all its authentic
ity\, and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band continues to present their uniqu
e New Orleans jazz sounds to the world. &nbsp\; See more at: http://ridgef
ieldplayhouse.org/event/preservation-hall-jazz-band#sthash.EPdw1nvs.dpuf
p>\n\n\n80 East Ridge Road\nRidgefield\, CT\n06877\n\n
DTSTART:20150401T193000
DTEND:20150401T000000
LOCATION:The Ridgefield Playhouse
PRIORITY:
SUMMARY:Preservation Hall Jazz Band
URL:http://www.connecticutmag.com/Connecticut-Magazine/Calendar/?view=view_
event&itm=19432
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:19645_20@www.connecticutmag.com
DTSTAMP:20150303T200325Z
CATEGORIES:ETCETERA
CONTACT:Christy
DESCRIPTION:

Come mingle among your fellow entrepreneurs in CT'
\;s newest shared office and co-working community\, OfficePlace! We are a
community of coworkers\, small businesses\, and start ups built around the
modern ideals of business. We want to grow the connections between busine
sses in Connecticut and there will be information from the CT Small Busine
ss Development Center and other resources available at the event.

We will have mini cupcakes from Nora'
\;s other refreshments and hors d'\;oeuvres provided by Middletown&nbsp
\;restaurants. We will have gluten free and vegan options. We want to be i
nclusive of everyone'\;s dietary restrictions and lifestyles. So come e
njoy some refreshments and local business talk!

\n\n

\nIf you RSVP on our faceb
ook page you will be entered to win a Fitbit Flex!\n&nbsp\;

Gather &lsquo\;round for a free family movie in the JCC Livi
ng Room. We&rsquo\;ve got a great free flick &amp\; popcorn so you can jus
t drop in and watch with your friends and families. Everyone welcome.

&ldquo\;Ida&rdquo\; is a multimedia dance theater solo perfo
rmance based on the Gertrude Stein novel of the same name. Using technolog
ical replications of the human form\, the piece explores Ida&rsquo\;s crea
tion of identity as she moves\, rests\, says yes\, gets married\, and owns
dogs. Presented in partial fulfillment of the Theses in Theater. Tickets
will be made available on the day of each performance at the box office. O
ff-campus guests may call the box office at 860-685-3355 after 10am to res
erve tickets to be held in their names until fifteen minutes prior to curt
ain. On-campus guests must pick up their tickets at the box office. There
is a two-ticket limit per person for free ticketed events.

This 25th anniversary retrospective of costumes\, set elemen
ts and posters will open on First Thursday\, April 2. Curated by Kathy Bor
teck-Gersten\, associate artistic director\, Judy Dworin Performance Proje
ct. Made possible by the City of Hartford Department of Marketing\, Events
and Cultural Affairs.

You&rsquo\;ve probably heard about this amazing group as the
y&rsquo\;re selling out venues across the country. So here&rsquo\;s your c
hance to come see and hear for your self. And who doesn&rsquo\;t love the
music of Van Morrison ? They play all Van&rsquo\;s hits\, some great album
tracks and their lead singer is not only spot on when it comes to the voc
als but he&rsquo\;s as entertaining as Van himself.

Featuring&nbsp\;art work by &nbsp\;elementary students who p
articipated in&nbsp\;the various art courses offered during the academic&n
bsp\;year. Paintings\, drawings\, prints and mixed&nbsp\;media pieces\, ph
otography and graphic designs\,&nbsp\;sculpture\, clay objects\, metal and
jewelry creations\,&nbsp\;and wood working projects will be displayed.

\n\n

Opening Reception: Sunday\, April 5\, 1-3pm. Opening is free and o
pen to the public.

View the talents of seniors Serena Berry\, Stephen MacNeille
\, Isaac Pollan\, Madeleine Chabot\, Adrian Nugent-Head\, and Miles Cornwa
ll in the Art Studio Program of Wesleyan&rsquo\;s Department of Art and Ar
t History\, on display from Tuesday\, April 7 through Sunday\, April 12\,
2015.

Don&rsq
uo\;t miss Robby Krieger\, legendary rock guitarist for The Doors and co-w
riter of songs such as &quot\;Light My Fire\,&quot\; &quot\;Love Me Two Ti
mes\,&quot\; &quot\;Touch Me\,&quot\; and &quot\;Ship of Fools.&quot\; &nb
sp\;Krieger has gone on to perform with bands and musicians including Blue
&Ouml\;yster Cult\, Daryl Hall and The Black Crowes'\;s Rich Robinson.
&nbsp\;Named one of Rolling Stone'\;s 100 greatest guitarists of all t
ime\, Kreiger&rsquo\;s show at The Playhouse will feature Doors standards
and classic rock '\;n'\; roll from the '\;60s and '\;70s.

\n

See more at: http://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/robby-krieger-doors
#sthash.eN4q8iGV.dpuf

WorldQuest\, the World Affairs Forum'\;s signature event\
, will be held on Wednesday\, April 8\, 2015\, at the Italian Center in St
amford.&nbsp\;Cocktails and dinner start the evening\, and the fun begins
with tables competing for '\;medals'\; by correctly answering questi
ons on current events and international affairs. The theme will be &ldquo\
;A Night at the World&rsquo\;s Fair&rdquo\; and David Smith\, host of Cabl
evision'\;s &quot\;Meet The Leaders&quot\;\, will serve as Game Master.

\n\n

A highlight of the evening will be the raffle drawing. First pr
ize is a $1\,500 Prepaid MasterCard gift card\; second prize will be the s
ame in the amount of $500. There will also be many other raffle prizes\, a
silent auction and lots of fun.&nbsp\; WorldQuest proceeds support the pr
ograms of the World Affairs Forum.

\n\n

The cost of the evening is $1
00\, which includes dinner\, open bar and the game. The festivities get un
derway at 6 pm.&nbsp\; Everyone is invited to join in and we&rsquo\;ll org
anize the teams of 10\, or you can put together your own team of friends a
nd &ldquo\;go for the gold&rdquo\;.

\n\n

Reservation deadline is Apri
l 2\, 2015. &nbsp\;Just phone the Forum office at 203-356-0340 to make you
r reservations or to obtain additional information.

\n\n

Raffle ticke
ts for the MasterCard gift cards can be purchased for $20 each from the Wo
rld Affairs Forum (203-356-0340). You need not be present to win.&nbsp\;
p>\n\n

The World Affairs Forum is a non-profit\, non-partisan organizati
on dedicated to expanding understanding of global affairs and America&rsqu
o\;s role in the world. The Forum is an affiliate of the World Affairs Cou
ncils of America.&nbsp\; &nbsp\; &nbsp\; &nbsp\;&nbsp\;

Gather &lsquo\;round for a free family movie in the JCC Livi
ng Room. We&rsquo\;ve got a great free flick &amp\; popcorn so you can jus
t drop in and watch with your friends and families. Everyone welcome.

Wind down after work with a 40-min. show and a glass of a wi
ne. Explore Prokofiev&rsquo\;s &ldquo\;Duo for Two Violins&rdquo\; (perfor
med by Yaira Matyakubova and Gregory Tompkins) in a relaxed setting\, and
discover what makes the music brilliant. Music Haven 117 Whalley Ave.\, Ne
w Haven\, CT Admission: $8 ($5 students/seniors)

Robert Dannin holds a doctorate in ethno-linguistics and ant
hropology from the School for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences in Paris
. He was the director of Magnum Photos Inc. from 1985 to 1990 and taught u
rban anthropology at New York University from 1993 to 2003.

Celebrating her last major tour\nJOAN ARMATRADING\nIn her first Solo Tour

\n\n

Over her 42 years of touring Joan Arma
trading has never done a solo world tour. For her last Major tour she has
decided this is the perfect time to perform her first ever full scale solo
concerts. Her performances will include songs that span her entire career
so far. &nbsp\;As with every tour from this unique performer\, you are gu
aranteed a fantastic mix of magical old favorites plus more recent composi
tions to fall in love with. Joan is as happy to play &ldquo\;Love and Affe
ction\,&rdquo\; &ldquo\;Willow\,&rdquo\; &ldquo\;Drop The Pilot&rdquo\; an
d &ldquo\;Me\, Myself I\,&rdquo\; as the audience is to hear them.

\n\n

See more at: http://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/joan-armatrading#stha
sh.uNjncqgb.dpuf

One of the most fun bands you&rsquo\;ll ever hear/see and th
ey&rsquo\;ll defy you to keep your butt in a chair or your feet from danci
n&rsquo\;. They&rsquo\;re so much fun that PBS taped their last performanc
e at Infinity Hall Norfolk and included the show as an episode of our nati
onally syndicated TV Series. &ldquo\;Infinity Hall Live&rdquo\;...go to ww
w.ihlive.org\, check em&rsquo\; out and purchase your ticket while there a
re still some left. We&rsquo\;re pulling out all the seats so they&rsquo\;
ll be room to boogie.

Growing up in the Zappa family home\, Dweezil Zappa marveled at his fat
her'\;s virtuoso skills as a composer and guitarist. After his father
39\;s passing he was inspired to do something to honor his father. Feeling
as though there was a generational gap and a fair amount of public confus
ion as to what his father'\;s music really was\, Dweezil set about crea
ting an opportunity for music fans to make a new discovery. Not satisfied
with the generic journalistic descriptions that had been applied over the
years or the accidental default association of &quot\;novelty act&quot\; h
e earned by way of the casual radio exposure of songs like &quot\;Don'\
;t Eat The Yellow Snow&quot\; and &quot\;Valley Girl\,&quot\; Dweezil Zapp
a decided it was time for a change. He wanted to expose core fans as well
as a potential new generation of fans to his father'\;s compositions in
a way that would give them a balanced perspective of the totality of Fran
k Zappa'\;s work. If Zappa Plays Zappa was to become a conduit for a ne
w generation of people discovering Frank Zappa'\;s music then Dweezil w
anted to do his best so that very little could be lost in translation.

The Connecticut premiere of The Nile Project features a dozen musicians
drawn from countries along the Nile Basin--including Egypt\, Ethiopia\, Su
dan\, and Uganda--performing collaboratively composed songs\, intertwining
diverse traditions into a unified sound that is &quot\;joyous and even ra
ucous&quot\; (NPR Music). The vocalists\, including Sudanese singer/songwr
iter Alsarah (Sarah Mohamed Abunama Elgadi '\;04) and Ethiopian-America
n singer Meklit Hadero\, sing in eleven different languages\, connecting p
ointed melodies with rich modal traditions. Lyrical topics range from the
deeply personal to party anthems\, exploring themes of identity\, regional
solidarity\, intercultural relationships both between and within their re
spective homelands\, local music scenes\, and living in the diaspora.\n\nThere will be a p
re-concert talk at 7:15pm.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

A Crowell Concert Series event
presented by the Music Department and the Center for the Arts. This event
is also part of Feet to the Fire. Funded in part by the Expeditions progra
m of the New England Foundation for the Arts\, and the Connecticut Office
of the Arts. Co-sponsored by the African Studies Cluster\, the Center for
African American Studies\, and the College of the Environment at Wesleyan
University.

BEATLES FOR SALE\, a New England Beatles tribute band\, will
perform at the Olde Mistick Village Art Cinemas\, 27 Coogan Blvd in Mysti
c on Friday\, April 10th at 8:00 PM.

\n\n

BEATLES FOR SALE is a five-
member Beatles tribute band from Massachusetts that has performed througho
ut the northeast US region for eight years.&nbsp\; The band has twice been
among the winners for the Limelight Music Awards in the Best Tribute Band
in New England category.

\n\n

This band delivers a fun and energetic
performance complete with original instrumentation and vocal harmonies th
at are as accurate as possible to the original Beatles recordings.&nbsp\;&
nbsp\; There are no offstage performers or pre-recorded tracks - everythin
g you hear is performed completely live.

\n\n

Tickets are available o
nline at www.oldemistickflicks.com and at Imagine Fantasy Gifts on Coogan
Blvd.&nbsp\; As seating numbers allow\, they will also be made available a
t the door.

Country line and partner dancing at its best.&nbsp\; New England Western D
ance Association\, a non-profit organization soon to be celebrating our 30
th Anniversary\, sponsors Line and Partner dancing usually twice monthly.&
nbsp\; We have members all over CT and meet at various venues such as Torr
ington\, Bristol\, Plainville and Thomaston.&nbsp\; We welcome new members
\, non-members\, both beginner and advanced levels of dance.

\n\n

At
our bi-weekly dances\, you can dance the night away to the latest hot new
country songs and some great classics.&nbsp\; Mini lessons.&nbsp\; Don&rsq
uo\;t have a partner? Come alone\, singles welcome.&nbsp\; Bring a friend\
, meet new friends and have a ball.&nbsp\; Outstanding area D.J.&rsquo\;s\
, cover charge generally $9/$12.

\n\n

Visit us on Facebook or our web
site www.newdact.com.&nbsp\; For more information call 203-706-2535.

From Lady Gaga to Frank Sinatra\, this &ldquo\;Glee&rdquo\;
like award-winning concert experience will take you from Broadway and beyo
nd- going from Pop to Broadway to Rock and Roll and more. &nbsp\;Featuring
a roster of the most dynamic women of the Broadway community\, The Broadw
ay Dolls is a truly unique pop/cultural experience combing music and dance
- switching from a Brittany Spears tune to My Girl and back to Katy Perry.
&nbsp\;This first-rate company of talent hails directly from the Broadway
casts of MAMMA MIA\, CHICAGO\, ROCK OF AGES\, JERSEY BOYS\, RENT\, HAIRSP
RAY\, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN\, LEGALLY BLONDE\, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG\, GREA
SE\, THE WEDDING SINGER\, A CHORUS LINE\, SISTER ACT\, GOOD VIBRATIONS\, a
nd more!

Robert Louis Stevenson&rsq
uo\;s story of murder\, money and mutiny is brought to life in a thrilling
new stage adaptation by Bryony Lavery\, broadcast live from the National
Theatre.

\n\n

It&rsquo\;s a dark\, stormy night. The stars are out. J
im\, the inn-keeper&rsquo\;s granddaughter\, opens the door to a terrifyin
g stranger. At the old sailor&rsquo\;s feet sits a huge sea-chest\, full o
f secrets. Jim invites him in &ndash\; and her dangerous voyage begins.

\n\n

See more at: http://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/national-theatre
-hd-treasure-island#sthash.cocWM33Z.dpuf

Come tour our campsite\nEnjoy some S'\;Mores
Check out our\nbasketball court\noutdoor pool\npicnic ar
eas\nhuman foosball\narts and crafts area\nnature trails
\nsports field and so much more\nRegister for camp during the
Open House and receive one free chance to win 2 weeks of summer camp.\nOpen House will run from 1:00-3:00pm. Anyone attending the Open House w
ill have the opportunity to use our indoor facility (pool\, gym\, playscap
e) from 1:30-6:00pm on April 12.\nRain date will be Sunday April 19t
h.

Gregory Alan Isak
ov is a South-African born singer-songwriter whose music combines indie an
d folk\, featuring instruments such as the guitar and mandolin. &nbsp\;Isa
kov has been traveling all his life\, and songs such as &quot\;Big Black C
ar&quot\; and &quot\;Raising Cain&quot\; &nbsp\;tell a story of miles and
landscapes\, and the search for a sense of place. &nbsp\;His song-craft le
nds to the deepest lyrical masterpieces\, with hints of his influences\, L
eonard Cohen and Bruce Springsteen. He has been described as &ldquo\;stron
g\, subtle\, a lyrical genius.&rdquo\;

\n\n

See more at: http://ridge
fieldplayhouse.org/event/gregory-alan-isakov#sthash.6dXrPrHj.dpuf

Chorus Angelicus &amp\; Gaudeamus join forces with the excel
lent choirs of St. Patrick-St. Anthony church to bring to life the extraor
dinarily popular choral music of British composer John Rutter in this year
of his 70th birthday.

The Muslim Coalition of Connecticut coordinates an exhibitio
n of photography focused on Muslim women in America as part of &ldquo\;Mus
lim Women&rsquo\;s Voices at Wesleyan.&rdquo\; This exhibition showcases p
hotographs that challenge stereotypes of Muslim American women and explore
s the diversity and complexity of this community. There will be an artist
talk at 5pm.

French finger style guitarist Pierre Bensusan will be perfor
ming at AcousticMusic.Org\n\nDescribed by the L.A. Times as &q
uot\;one of the most unique and brilliant acoustic guitar veterans in the
world music scene today&quot\;\, Pierre Bensusan was voted &quot\;Best Wor
ld Music Guitarist in 2008&quot\; by Guitar Player Magazine Readers Choice
.&nbsp\; He has the ability to make a single guitar sound like an ensemble
as he brings the audience along on a musical journey.\n\nCall
203 458 8353\nfor tickets\, reservations or more information

The Muslim Coalition of Connecticut coordinates an exhibitio
n of photography focused on Muslim women in America as part of &ldquo\;Mus
lim Women&rsquo\;s Voices at Wesleyan.&rdquo\; This exhibition showcases p
hotographs that challenge stereotypes of Muslim American women and explore
s the diversity and complexity of this community.

\n\n

Hours: From Tu
esday\, April 14 through Friday\, May 8\, 2015 - Monday through Friday fro
m 9am to 3pm\; from Monday\, May 11 through Friday\, May 29\, 2015 - Monda
y through Friday from 9am to 5pm

View the talents of seniors Dandara Catete\, Sarah Esocoff\,
Katherine Du\, Virgil B/G Taylor\, and Sarah Koppelkam in the Art Studio
Program of Wesleyan&rsquo\;s Department of Art and Art History\, on displa
y from Tuesday\, April 14 through Sunday\, April 19\, 2015.

TWO SHOW TIMES: 2pm &amp\; 7pm

\n\n

Hilary\, a young psychology researcher at a brainscience institute\, is nu
rsing a private sorrow and a troubling question at work\, where psychology
and biology meet. If there is nothing but matter\, what is consciousness?
This is &lsquo\;the hard problem&rsquo\; which puts Hilary at odds with h
er colleagues who include her first mentor Spike\, her boss Leo and the bi
llionaire founder of the institute\, Jerry. Is the day coming when the com
puter and the fMRI scanner will answer all the questions psychology can as
k? Meanwhile Hilary needs a miracle\, and she is prepared to pray for one.

\n\n

See more at: http://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/national-thea
tre-hd-hard-problem#sthash.QcRVY0dv.dpuf

The Toneburst Laptop and Electronic Arts Ensemble performs n
ew works by ensemble members\, and old electronic works newly arranged for
laptop ensemble\, under the direction of Visiting Assistant Professor of
Music Jonathan Zorn.

BIG BAND THE WAY YOU WANT IT! &nbsp\;The Al Fenton Big Band
will be performing at J'\;s Crab Shack in Hartford on April 16th. &nbsp
\;The Al Fenton Big Band is an 18 piece Big Band featuring the vocals of B
ev St. Onge. &nbsp\;The Band plays jazz\, swing and blues and will surely
be entertaining. &nbsp\;Come on over to the Crab Shack\, listen to some Bi
g Band\, eat some great food\, and put a &quot\;Spring&quot\; in your danc
e steps!

Since co-founding Kuth Ranieri Architects\, Byron &amp\; Eliz
abeth have been committed to balancing a building practice with research p
rojects to stretch and experiment with design across many scales. They wil
l present works that vary from custom fabrications to visionary infrastruc
ture.

\n\n

Byron Dean Kuth\, FAIA is a LEED accredited architect and
Managing Principal of Kuth Ranieri Architects. Of mid-western roots\, Mr.
Kuth went east to study and holds degrees in Fine Arts and Architecture fr
om the Rhode Island School of Design. After graduating\, he settled in the
Bay Area and co-founded Kuth Ranieri Architects with his partner\, Elizab
eth Ranieri\, FAIA.&nbsp\; His innovative multi-disciplinary practice has
been recognized with numerous awards at the regional\, national and intern
ational levels. In conjunction with his practice\, he has taught at the Ca
lifornia College of the Arts\, the Harvard Graduate School of Design\, and
as a Friedman Professors at the College of Environmental Design at UC Ber
keley. He launched the Deep Green Design Alliance (DGDA)\, a multidiscipli
nary think tank for sustainable strategies in architecture and urban desig
n. In 2010\, Mr. Kuth was elevated to Fellowship by the American Institute
of Architects and his monograph\, Kuth Ranieri Architects\, published by
Princeton Architectural Press was released.

\n\n

Elizabeth Ranieri\,
FAIA is a LEED accredited architect and co-founding design principal of Ku
th/Ranieri Architects. Her innovative multi-disciplinary practice has been
recognized with numerous awards at the regional\, national and internatio
nal levels. She holds degrees in Architecture and Fine Arts from the Rhode
Island School of Design and has taught at the California College of the A
rts\, the Harvard Graduate School of Design and as a Friedman Professor at
UC Berkeley&rsquo\;s College of Environmental Design. With over two decad
es of experience practicing architecture\, she has earned a national reput
ation for innovative expressions of sustainable systems at a building and
planning scale. She has led the firm&rsquo\;s research &amp\; development
on infrastructural approaches to water conservation\, water treatment\, an
d adaptive strategies to rising seas. Her proposal for a dynamic adaptive
levee titled &ldquo\;Folding Water\,&rdquo\; winner of the BCDC&rsquo\;s I
nternational Rising Tides Competition\, laid the groundwork for her role a
s an Industry Partner for a Capstone Project on Energy-Efficient Adaptive
Aqueous Barriers\, sponsored by the UC Berkeley&rsquo\;s Fung Institute fo
r Engineering Leadership.

Written and directed by Lebanese American writer\, performer
\, and teaching artist Leila Buck &lsquo\;99\, in collaboration with Wesle
yan University students\, faculty\, and members of the Connecticut Muslim
community. Ms. Buck presents a work-in-progress showing of a collaborative
theatrical work commissioned by the Center for the Arts as part of &ldquo
\;Muslim Women&rsquo\;s Voices at Wesleyan.&rdquo\; Ms. Buck guided Wesley
an University students and members of the local Muslim community in conver
sations and connections\, weaving their stories and experiences into an in
teractive exploration of culture\, religion\, identity\, community\, and t
he challenge and power of sharing our stories.

For centuries the lighthouse has been a beacon for those at
sea in the dark. Today the structure and its keeper remain potent\, positi
ve metaphors for the human condition. Judy Dworin envisions &ldquo\;Lighth
ouse&rdquo\; as a modern-day fable\, telling of the need to maintain and d
evelop social connections in a technology-driven world that increases isol
ation. Depicting a lighthouse\, its keeper\, and shipwrecked survivors sud
denly cut off from cyberspace\, the dance-theater work explores how strand
ed individuals will establish community and what it means to be truly seen
by each other.

\n\n

On Friday\, April 17 at 6:30 p.m.\, Erin
Monroe\, assistant curator of American Painting and Sculpture\,
will give a pre-performance talk on the Edward Hopper watercolor\, &ldquo\
;Captain Strout&rsquo\;s House\, Portland Head&rdquo\; (depicting the ligh
thouse attached to his residence).&nbsp\;

Singer-Songwriter\, Lee Ann Womack\, is best known
for &quot\;I Hope You Dance&rdquo\;\, &ldquo\;Last Call&rdquo\;\, &ldquo\
;Think of a Reason Later&rdquo\; and &ldquo\;Mendocino County Line (featur
ing Willie Nelson)&rdquo\;. &nbsp\;After spending several years as a profe
ssional songwriter\, Lee Ann Womack'\;s eponymous album was released in
May of 1997\, and shortly after its release\, it reached the Top Ten on t
he country chart. I Hope You Dance followed in mid-2000. Something Worth L
eaving Behind appeared in mid-2002\, and it was a sure fit for Womack to m
ove into the country mainstream for good. She also earned two Grammy nods:
one for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Something Worth Leaving
Behind and Best Vocal Collaboration (Country) for her duet with Willie Ne
lson on &quot\;Mendocino County Line.&quot\;

\n\n

See more at: http:/
/ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/lee-ann-womack#sthash.1PG0Pj1s.dpuf

Based on the television show\, &ldquo\;Dinosaur Train&rdquo\
; created by Craig Bartlett\, produced by The Jim Henson Company.

\n\n<
p>DINOSAUR TRAIN LIVE! BUDDY&rsquo\;S BIG ADVENTURE embraces and celebrate
s the fascination that preschoolers have with both dinosaurs and trains. T
he series encourages basic scientific thinking skills as the audience lear
ns about life science\, natural history and paleontology.\n\n

Come j
oin Buddy\, Tiny\, King\, Don and more in this fun-filled\, interactive an
d immersive live trip back in time to an age when dinosaurs roamed the ear
th....and rode in trains!

\n\n

Little Buddy is a proud Tyrannosaurus
Rex living happily in the Pteranodon family nest. But\, what exactly makes
Buddy a part of this family\, and just what will happen when he gets bigg
er and can'\;t fit in the nest anymore? Buddy wants to know\, so the Pt
eranodons decide to hop aboard the one and only Dinosaur Train and set off
on an adventure across the Mesozoic to take Buddy to see his good friend
King Cryolophosaurus. King'\;s giving a big concert in Troodon Town and
will be a great pal for Buddy to talk to and figure it all out. But\, oh
no- King is missing! Will Buddy and the gang be able to find him in time f
or his concert? Just why is King hiding anyway? And will Buddy discover wh
at makes him special and such an important part of the Pteranodon family?
Let&rsquo\;s all take a ride on the Dinosaur Train to find out\, together!

\n\n

Dinosaur Train &ndash\; Live! will bring the beloved stars of t
he hit PBS series to your hometown for the first time. From giant King to
teeny Tiny\, our friends will be brought to life in an exciting\, original
\, musical story created just for the stage where our audience is always a
part of the action. Utilizing lush projected backgrounds and vistas\, mag
ical special effects that fill the theatre\, a full sized replica of the D
inosaur Train\, unique hybrid puppeteered costume characters and an engagi
ng live host\, our Dinosaur pals and their adventures will truly seem larg
er than life.

Direct from London'\;s West End comes America'\;s Got
Downton. The London Daily Telegraph hails the show (called '\;The Only
Way is Downton'\; in the UK) a &quot\;remarkable\, tour de force one-ma
n show.&quot\; Luke Kempner creates more than thirty characters in this pa
rody which blends celebrity visitors with well-known characters from Downt
on Abbey. Cultures clash and eras hilariously collide to help the cast sav
e the estate from financial ruin - again!

From this past season seven of The Voice- Luke Wade stood ou
t. &nbsp\;As one of Pharrell Williams&rsquo\; understudies\, this Dublin b
orn soul singer\, who grew up in Texas\, never let any of his ailments- fr
om being blind in one eye\, to overcoming temporary brain damage- stand in
his way of making his dreams come true. &nbsp\;In fact it was having this
unusual perspective on life that made Luke the singer/songwriter he is to
day. &nbsp\;Compared to a wide variety of artists\, including Ray LaMontag
ne\, the release of his new album &ldquo\;The River&rdquo\; is a culminati
on of Luke Wades story.

\n\n

See more at: http://ridgefieldplayhouse.
org/event/luke-wade#sthash.URmeS1cx.dpuf

Trav
erse space and time in a matter of steps as you delve into landscapes\, ci
tyscapes\, and seascapes that NBMAA artists have captured in wildly varyin
g styles over centuries. Journey from the New England wilderness to the ro
cky shores of California\, then pack an artist&rsquo\;s toolkit and head i
nto Walnut Hill Park for some en plein air landscape drawing!

\n\n

$8 per child/Members $10 per child/non-Members

\n\n

(No charge for accompanying adults and children under 5)<
/p>\n\n

Homeschool Days are learning experiences designed exclusively fo
r homeschool families. Join us before the Museum opens to the public to ex
plore the galleries with one of our knowledgeable docents. Each dynamic\,
interactive tour will end in our bright and spacious Art Studio\, where st
udents will engage in a hands-on project related to the theme of the day.
Homeschool Days are designed with a school aged audience in mind\, and fam
ilies with young children are encouraged to make use of books\, games\, an
d self-guided art projects in the Family ArtLab while registered students
take part in the day&rsquo\;s activities. Space is limited to 30 students\
, and pre-registration is required. Payment is due at time of preregistrat
ion. To pre-register or for more information\, please contact Katy\, Coord
inator of School &amp\; Family Programs\, at matsuzakik@nbmaa.org or (860)
229-0257\, ext. 220

Traverse space and time in a mat
ter of steps as you delve into landscapes\, cityscapes\, and seascapes tha
t NBMAA artists have captured in wildly varying styles over centuries. Jou
rney from the New England wilderness to the rocky shores of California\, t
hen pack an artist&rsquo\;s toolkit and head into Walnut Hill Park for som
e en plein air landscape drawing!

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Thir
d Monday of every month\,

\n\n

Oct.-May 9-11 a.m.

\n\n

(No charge for accompanying adults and childre
n under 5)

\n\n

Homeschool Days are learning experiences des
igned exclusively for homeschool families. Join us before the Museum opens
to the public to explore the galleries with one of our knowledgeable doce
nts. Each dynamic\, interactive tour will end in our bright and spacious A
rt Studio\, where students will engage in a hands-on project related to th
e theme of the day. Homeschool Days are designed with a school aged audien
ce in mind\, and families with young children are encouraged to make use o
f books\, games\, and self-guided art projects in the Family ArtLab while
registered students take part in the day&rsquo\;s activities. Space is lim
ited to 30 students\, and pre-registration is required. Payment is due at
time of preregistration. To pre-register or for more information\, please
contact Katy\, Coordinator of School &amp\; Family Programs\, at matsuzaki
k@nbmaa.org or (860) 229-0257\, ext. 220.

Expe
rience Camelot&rsquo\;s &ldquo\;one brief shining moment&rdquo\; as Lerner
and Loewe envisioned it in one of theatre&rsquo\;s most legendary musical
s. Recount the time-honored legend of King Arthur\, Guinevere\, Lancelot\,
and the Knights of the Round Table in an enchanting fable of chivalry\, m
ajesty\, and brotherhood in this four-time Tony Award&reg\; winning show.<
/p>\n\n

Camelot tells the story of the legend of King Arthur who rules h
is kingdom with new ideals\, bringing peace to a troubled land. But when h
is beautiful new Queen Guinevere and the dashing Sir Lancelot\, his most t
rusted knight\, give in to their passion for one another\, one of the most
fabled love triangles of all time ensues. When Mordred\, King Arthur&rsqu
o\;s illegitimate son\, catches on and sees a kingdom in chaos\, he attemp
ts to destroy all that is Camelot!

\n\n

Intimate and fresh\, never ha
s this story of passion\, pageantry and betrayal been more captivating. Th
e celebrated score includes the classics &ldquo\;If Ever I Would Leave You
\,&rdquo\; &ldquo\;The Simple Joys of Maidenhood\,&rdquo\; and the title s
ong\, &ldquo\;Camelot.&rdquo\;

Join Charles\, on his actual 80th Birthday\, as he makes you
laugh\, brinigng you on his own personal journey through show business!
p>\n\n

&ldquo\;A first rate story teller\,&rdquo\; The New York Times &l
dquo\;Natural Born Raconteur\,&rdquo\; Newsweek

\n\n

For more than 50
years Charles Grodin\, the well known actor\, comedian\, author\, and for
mer talk show host\, has been in the entertainment industry and seen it al
l. From his parts in films that range such as Roman Polanski'\;s Rosema
ry'\;s Baby in 1968 to films like The Heartbreak Kid\, and &nbsp\;Catch
-22 to Midnight Run\, Heaven Can Wait\, Taking Care of Business\, Seems Li
ke Old Times\, The Great Muppet Caper\, The Woman in Red\, The Lonely Guy\
, Ishtar The Couch Trip and more\, Grodin takes you on a comedic roller co
aster ride as he shares his stories about his career and life in Hollywood
. He is probably best known for his role as George Newton in the 1990s Joh
n Hughes comedy franchise Beethoven\, where he repeatedly had his face lic
ked by a 200 pound St. Bernard&hellip\;..need we say more.

In one of the seminal plays of Theater of the Absurd\, &ldqu
o\;The Bald Soprano&rdquo\; (1950)\, Eugene Ionesco reveals the decay of a
modern person and the futility of meaningful communication in contemporar
y society. Inspired by the cliche dialogues between the imaginary Mr. and
Mrs. Smith in an English phrasebook for beginners\, Mr. Ionesco rejected t
he coherent plot\, character development\, and concept of realistic drama\
, instead creating his own anarchic and grotesque form of comedy to convey
the tragedy of language in a universe ruled by chance. In Jean-Paul Sartr
e'\;s words\, &quot\;Ionesco sees our language as if from a distance. H
e reveals its banality and routine. The reader faces an acute realization
of the absurdity of language\, to the point when one does not want to spea
k anymore. His theater is a dream about language.&quot\; Directed by Profe
ssor of Theater Yuri Kordonsky.

\n\n

Date: Wednesday\, April 22 throu
gh Friday\, April 24\, 2015 at 8pm\; Saturday\, April 25\, 2015 at 2pm and
8pm

Visiting Instructor in Music Noah Baerman discusses the phil
osophical origins and musical development of his suite &ldquo\;The Rock an
d the Redemption&rdquo\; in anticipation of its premiere performance on Sa
turday\, April 25 as part of the 14th annual Wesleyan Jazz Orchestra Weeke
nd. The piece re-imagines the myth of Sisyphus as an inspiring tale of dig
nity and perseverance through seemingly insurmountable adversity.

In one of the seminal plays of Theater of the Absurd\, &ldqu
o\;The Bald Soprano&rdquo\; (1950)\, Eugene Ionesco reveals the decay of a
modern person and the futility of meaningful communication in contemporar
y society. Inspired by the cliche dialogues between the imaginary Mr. and
Mrs. Smith in an English phrasebook for beginners\, Mr. Ionesco rejected t
he coherent plot\, character development\, and concept of realistic drama\
, instead creating his own anarchic and grotesque form of comedy to convey
the tragedy of language in a universe ruled by chance. In Jean-Paul Sartr
e'\;s words\, &quot\;Ionesco sees our language as if from a distance. H
e reveals its banality and routine. The reader faces an acute realization
of the absurdity of language\, to the point when one does not want to spea
k anymore. His theater is a dream about language.&quot\; Directed by Profe
ssor of Theater Yuri Kordonsky.

\n\n

Date: Wednesday\, April 22 throu
gh Friday\, April 24\, 2015 at 8pm\; Saturday\, April 25\, 2015 at 2pm and
8pm

As one of Hartford&rsquo\;s premier
philanthropic events\, our Opening the Door Celebration boasts more than
500 guests and raises the funds our Clubs need to inspire Hartford&rsquo\;
s youth to reach their full potential. This meaningful event features the
organization'\;s Annual Hall of Fame Ceremony\, in addition to the Yout
h of the Year\, an inspiring Boys &amp\; Girls Club member from Hartford.<
/p>\n\n

This year'\;s&nbsp\;Opening the Door
Celebration includes:

\n\n

&gt\; Co
cktails &amp\; Hors d&rsquo\;oeuvres\n&gt\; Three Course Dinner\n&gt\; Live and Silent Auctions\n&gt\; Thrills\, surprises and so
much more.

\n\n

We hope to see you
there to help put more than 5\,000 of Hartford'\;s children and teens o
n the path to Great Futures!&nbsp\;

Even after 50 years as a major recording artist\, award-winn
ing singer-songwriter Judy Collins&rsquo\; wonderful voice still shines br
ightly. An important part of the 1960s folk revival\, Collins began her ca
reer channeling Dylan\, Pete Seeger\, The Beatles and many more artists. H
er traditional folk classics include Chelsea Morning\, Cat&rsquo\;s In The
Cradle and Bird On A Wire. &nbsp\;Collins has inspired audiences with sub
lime vocals\, boldly vulnerable songwriting\, personal life triumphs\, and
a firm commitment to social activism. &nbsp\;A modern day Renaissance wom
an\, Collins brings to The Ridgefield Playhouse her music of hope and heal
ing that lights up the world and speaks to the heart.

University Professor of Music and dhalang (puppet master) Su
marsam and the Wesleyan Gamelan Ensemble\, directed by Artist in Residence
I.M. Harjito\, will present a Javanese wayang kulit\, the puppet play emp
loying intricately carved leather puppets\, accompanied by an ensemble of
instruments and vocalists.

Member and guest artists include David Brown\, Helen Cantrel
l (Guest Artist)\, Ashby Carlisle\, Catherine Christiano\, Bette Ellsworth
\, Mary Fussell\, Gray Jacobik\, Judith Barbour Osborne\, T. Willie Raney\
, Diana Rogers\, Victoria Sivigny\, Jill Vaughn\, and Elizabeth Lockhart T
aft (Guest Artist). The opening reception on Friday\, April 24 from 5pm to
7pm is concurrent with Guilford Art Center'\;s &quot\;Friday Night in
the Gallery&quot\; event which includes workshops and is open to the publi
c. Visitors are welcome to view the gallery exhibition for free and take a
one-night workshop in the school (preregistration required\; $35 for non-
members\, $31.50 for members). Closing reception and artists talk on Satur
day\, May 9 from 2-4 pm. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday from 10
am to 4pm\, Sunday from noon to 4pm. www.galleryonect.com

Randy Bachman of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive
is a legendary figure in the rock n'\; roll world. Guitarist\, songwrit
er\, performer and producer &ndash\; hits include &ldquo\;These Eyes\,&rdq
uo\; &ldquo\;American Woman\,&rdquo\; &ldquo\;Takin&rsquo\; Care of Busine
ss&rdquo\; and &ldquo\;You Ain&rsquo\;t Seen Nothin&rsquo\; Yet.&rdquo\; &
nbsp\;He&rsquo\;s earned over 120 gold and platinum album/singles awards a
round the world\, garnered the #1 spot on radio playlists in over 20 count
ries\, and amassed over 40 million records sold. &nbsp\;His award-winning
radio program &ldquo\;Randy Bachman'\;s Vinyl Tap&rdquo\; is heard by m
illions worldwide each week on CBC and Sirius. &nbsp\;Don&rsquo\;t miss th
is unbelievable night of guitar-based rock at The Playhouse!

\n\n

See
more at: http://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/randy-bachman#sthash.mbAf1Z
LY.dpuf

The Noah Webster House &amp\; West Hartford Historical Socie
ty announces its Sixth Annual War of the Words Fundraiser!

\n\n

Could
you spell butyraceous if you weren&rsquo\;t looking right at it? And coul
d you define it? Most people would probably just guess\, but at Webster&rs
quo\;s War of the Words\, it could mean the winning points! (FYI it means
butter-like.) This entertaining gala event is centered on Noah Webster&rsq
uo\;s impact on American words and culture. The sixth annual Webster&rsquo
\;s War of the Words will take place at West Hartford Town Hall on Friday\
, April 24 at 6 p.m.

\n\n

Emceed by NBC 30 News Anchor Brad Drazen\,
the evening will include live music\, hearty appetizers\, a cash bar\, and
live and silent auctions. The featured entertainment for the night will b
e a game show focusing on language and culture. Contestants like Chion Wol
f\, Self Suffice\, Susan Campbell\, and Rob Kyff will team up and face off
in a War of the Words!

\n\n

Tickets are $50 per person ($60 after Ap
ril 20 and at the door). Visit https://www.noahwebsterhouse.org/join/war-o
f-words.htm for information and tickets.

The Parkinson&rsquo\;s Unity Walk is the largest grassroots
fundraiser for Parkinson&rsquo\;s disease research in the country. 100% of
donations support research funded by seven major Parkinson&rsquo\;s found
ations. In addition to raising awareness and funds for research\, it is a
day of community and education with representatives from sponsors and foun
dations sharing information and resources with members of the Parkinson&rs
quo\;s community. The Unity Walk has grown from 200 participants in 1994 r
aising $16\,000 to over 11\,000 participants in 2014 raising over $1.6M fo
r research. &nbsp\;Registration begins at 8:30am\, walk begins at 10am.

Peter share
s his exciting animal world\, travel experiences and timeless tales. He hi
ghlights his many adventures with a mix of video clips and bloopers while
introducing friendly exotic animals to audience members\, and telling insp
irational stories dealing with issues of conservation\, travel\, and wildl
ife filming. Peter&rsquo\;s fascinating stories have been thrilling and ed
ucating audiences across the country for years!

\n\n

See more at: htt
p://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/peter-gros-mutual-omahas-wild-kingdom#st
hash.nVdG3rgI.dpuf

A pianist\, composer\, educator\, author\, and Artistic Dire
ctor of Resonant Motion\, &quot\;Noah Baerman is no stranger to aiming hig
h&quot\; (David Adler\, Village Voice). With a cast of instrumentalists an
d vocalists including saxophonist Kris Allen and vibraphonist Chris Dingma
n '\;02\, Mr. Baerman'\;s group will present the world premiere of h
is extended work &ldquo\;The Rock and the Redemption&rdquo\; as part of th
e 14th annual Wesleyan Jazz Orchestra Weekend. There will be a short openi
ng set by Wesleyan jazz students performing works by Mr. Baerman.

The 6th Annual White Coat Gala to benefit UConn Health will
be held on Saturday\, April 25\, 2015 at the Connecticut Convention Center
in Hartford. Philanthropists Mark and Laura Yellin and corporate supporte
r Straumann USA will be honored.

\n\n

Proceeds will benefit UConn Hea
lth&rsquo\;s campus revitalization project\, called Bioscience Connecticut
. Major projects include new state-of-the-art outpatient and hospital faci
lities and expansions for research laboratories and business incubator spa
cing. Additionally\, a modern addition will be built on the academic build
ing to accommodate a 30 percent increase in medical and dental students.
p>\n\n

This fourth annual community event invites everyone to celeb
rate drawing in all its forms with workshops for people of all skill level
s\, from beginners to accomplished artists. The event is organized to enco
urage creativity\, exploration\, invention\, and fun with activities that
celebrate the visual arts. Organized by the Friends of the Davison Art Cen
ter with support from the Division of Arts and Humanities. Events will tak
e place in the Davison Art Center\, as well as Fayerweather Beckham Hall (
45 Wyllys Avenue) and Art Workshops (285 Washington Terrace).

Get fit and have fun! Registered participants receive access to the cours
e and festival area with DJ\, beer\, and vendors!&nbsp\;A portion of proce
eds benefits the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. For additional information
visit www.gritnwitrun.com.&nbsp\;

\n\n

Spectators are welcome to jo
in us for free in designated areas.&nbsp\;

The longest running dinner theater show in CT has yo
u cruising for murder. Meet the notorious &ldquo\;Uncle Franco&rdquo\; and
his ex-wife Stella.&nbsp\; Today they are giving their niece Donna away t
o that bum Danny\, the garbage man.&nbsp\; But the wedding of Danny &amp\;
Donna is not your typical ceremony and reception.&nbsp\; Mama Lambrusco h
as an ax to grind.&nbsp\; No one is good enough for her son!

\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

This comedy murder mystery is a dinner-thea
ter show in which you\, the audience\, take part. Your role is to be a gue
st at the wedding celebration. While Uncle Franco tries to keep the feudin
g relatives in line\, family members like &quot\;Luigi the Squeegy&quot\;
and Mario &quot\;One Minute&quot\; Mancini\,&nbsp\; and Sal Manilla cause
more mischief by singing\, mingling and dancing with the guests.&nbsp\; Wi
th crazy relatives and an unenthusiastic groom\, it may be happily never a
fter in this nuptial nightmare.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Wear your favorite mob garb or the craziest wedding attire you can come
up with. It&rsquo\;ll make their special day that much more unique\, as l
ong as they actually get the chance to walk down the aisle!

\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

It'\;s up to you to discover who turned ma
trimony into murder. A night of non-stop interactive fun with dinner\, dan
cing\, singing\, and mingling with the mob.

GMChorale invites you to join them on Sunday\, April 26\, 20
15 at 4 PM for their presentation of Mozart&rsquo\;s choral masterwork\, <
em>Requiem. The Chorale will be joined by the New Haven Symphony Orch
estra for this incomparably poignant musical experience at the MHS Perform
ing Arts Center\, 200 La Rosa Lane\, Middletown.

\n\n

GMChorale (Grea
ter Middletown Chorale)\, with a current membership of over 60 singers\, i
s an auditioned symphonic chorus committed to excellence in performing cho
ral masterworks and other outstanding music for all generations of listene
rs. Centrally based in Middletown\, its members reside in more than 25 com
munities all across the state. Visit www.gmchorale.org for further informa
tion.

Auditions:\nMI
DDLE SCHOOL BANDS - March 2\, 2015 at 7pm\nHIGH SCHOOL BANDS - March
3\, 2015 at 7pm

\n\n

If you think The Voice Rocks - You ain'\;t s
een nothing yet!&nbsp\;&nbsp\;The best middle school and high school band
around will rock out at the Playhouse during Ridgefield BandJam 2015!!&nbs
p\; What began as a charity event for The Playhouse has become a much anti
cipated competition where middle school and high school students perform b
efore a panel of industry professionals for the title of BandJam Winner!
p>\n\n

Harpsichord duo to
perform for Chamber Music @ Christ Church! &nbsp\;Join us on Sunday\, April&nbsp\;26th\, 3:00 p.m. @ Ch
rist Episcopal Church\, 78 Washington Street\, Norwich CT\,&nbsp\;&nbsp\;for a recital of&nbsp\;17th&nb
sp\;and&nbsp\;18th&nbsp\;century masterworks performed by harpsichordists
Gavin Black (founder and director of the Princeton Early Keyboard Center)
and Jesse N.&nbsp\;Glaude&nbsp\;(founder and executive director of Christ
Church School of the Arts).&nbsp\;&nbsp\;

\n\n

Love early music? &nbsp\;Adore history? &nbsp\;Pass
ionate about all things antique? &nbsp\;Then don'\;t miss this opportun
ity to let us take you back to the Baroque! &nbsp\;Admission is FREE! &nbs
p\;Donations may be made to help support the series. &nbsp\;A champagne re
ception will follow the program and audience members will have the opportu
nity to chat with Mr. Black and Mr.&nbsp\;Glaude\, and to examine the inst
ruments. For more information: 860.425.0663 or&nbsp\;www.ccsarts.org. &nbs
p\;

Quiara Alegr&iacute\;a Hudes is the Shapiro Distinguished Pr
ofessor of Writing and Theater at Wesleyan University. Her play &ldquo\;Wa
ter by the Spoonful&rdquo\; received the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. He
r other works include the book for the 2008 Tony Award-winning &ldquo\;Bes
t Musical&rdquo\; &ldquo\;In the Heights\,&rdquo\; and the plays &ldquo\;E
lliot\, A Soldier&rsquo\;s Fugue&rdquo\; (2006) and &ldquo\;The Happiest S
ong Plays Last&rdquo\; (2013). Her younger cousin grew up in &ldquo\;the b
arrio\,&rdquo\; graduated public school\, enlisted at the age of seventeen
\, sustained a leg injury in Iraq\, and became a veteran\, all by the ripe
age of eighteen. This talk tells the true backstage story of what happene
d after Ms. Hudes turned her cousin'\;s life into a trilogy of plays. F
or him\, opening night was only the beginning. Reception and book signing
to follow the talk. An Outside the Box Theater Series event presented by t
he Theater Department and the Center for the Arts.

Zilkha Gallery showcases the work of the Class of 2015'\;
s thesis students in the Department of Art and Art History'\;s Art Stud
io Program. Each student is invited to select a single work from their Sen
ior Thesis Exhibition for this year-end showcase of drawing\, painting\, p
rintmaking\, photography\, sculpture\, mixed media\, and architecture cura
ted by Professor of Art Tula Telfair. Co-sponsored by University Relations
.

Each
spring\, hundreds of area women and men gather at the annual WOW event in
support of the mission of the Women &amp\; Girls&rsquo\; Fund --&nbsp\;to
improve the quality of life for all women and girls in Bristol\, Burlingto
n\,&nbsp\;Plainville\, Plymouth\,&nbsp\;Southington and&nbsp\;Wolcott. The
proceeds from the event benefit the grant awards made by the Fund every f
all. Last year the Fund awarded over $36\,000 to local organizations and c
auses.

One artwork\, one speaker\, fifteen minutes. Join the Friend
s of the Davison Art Center for presentations by Wesleyan faculty and stud
ents about their favorite works in the DAC collection. Bring your bag lunc
h and enjoy coffee\, homemade cookies\, and conversation following the tal
k by Lucas McLaughlin &lsquo\;15.

Beginning and advanced students in the Taiko Drumming Ensemb
le perform thunderous and exhilarating rhythms of Japanese Taiko drumming
under the direction of Visiting Instructor in Music Barbara Merjan. Severa
l dynamic styles will be showcased\, demonstrating both traditional and co
ntemporary Taiko repertoire.

The Collegium Musicum is a performance ensemble dedicated to
exploring and performing the diverse vocal and instrumental repertories o
f the Medieval\, Renaissance\, and Baroque periods of European music histo
ry\, directed by Associate Professor of Music and Medieval Studies Jane Al
den.

For more than 50 years the name Florence Foster Jenkins was
guaranteed to produce explosions of derisive laughter for good reason. Thi
s wealthy society eccentric mistakenly believed she was a great soprano wh
en she was\, in fact\, incapable of producing two consecutive notes in tun
e. Still\, her annual recitals in the ballroom of the Ritz Carlton hotel b
rought her extraordinary fame. As news of her terrible singing spread\, so
did her celebrity. SOUVENIR\, by turn hilarious and poignant\, tells her
story through the eyes of her friend and accompanist\, Cosme McMoon. Audie
nces will be filled with laughter as well as a heartfelt appreciation for
this musical &quot\;odd couple&quot\; for the ages.

Friday\, May 1 Beyond Words Derby Style\, 7 pm &ndash\; 11 p
m.&nbsp\; It'\;s off to the races on May 1 as Wilton Library'\;s ann
ual spring benefit\, Beyond Words\, goes Derby Style. Guests will enjoy a
festive evening on the eve of the Kentucky Derby -- Friday\, May 1st -- as
library spaces are transformed with charming southern flair. The fundrais
er will feature spectacular Derby-inspired food from AMG Catering\, unique
silent and live auctions\, a Bourbon Tasting Lounge\, and much more. We a
re excited to welcome poet and author Ira Joe Fisher\, who will serve as t
he evening'\;s entertaining auctioneer. Our 2015 Beyond Words honorary
chairs are Chris and Tish Brubeck\, who have supported the Library in so m
any ways over the years. Beyond Words helps support the continued growth o
f Library collections\, a broad range of cultural activities\, innovative
technology\, as well as adult\, teen and children'\;s programs and serv
ices.&nbsp\; Wilton Library\, 137 Old Ridgefield Road\, Wilton\; www.wilto
nlibrary.org\; (203) 762-3950.

Join us Friday\, May 1\, 2015 from 5 - 7 PM for the Friends
of Slater Museum Annual Meeting.&nbsp\;This program is free to all current
members\, including those who join at the event. &nbsp\; Perhaps one of t
he most exciting portraits in the museum&rsquo\;s collection is a portrait
of a seated gentleman\, found in the Slater building&rsquo\;s attic\, hid
ing in plain sight. This imposing portrait\, painted in 1857\, of Russell
Hubbard\, a founder of the Norwich Free Academy and Slater Family relative
\,&nbsp\;suffered poor de-installation\, followed by poor early attempts a
t &quot\;restoration\,&quot\; and decades of neglect and deterioration.&nb
sp\; Now\, it will be unveiled for the first time following an extensive t
wo-year conservation campaign and re-creation of a period-accurate frame.
Brief annual reports will be followed by a presentation by the conservator
s.&nbsp\; Reception to follow.&nbsp\; &nbsp\; Russell Hubbard\, (1795-1857) by Alexander Hamilton Emmons (1816-1884)\, was conserved t
hrough generous support of the NFA Foundation\, the Friends of Slater Muse
um and Dr. Mary Lou Bargnesi and Fritz Gahagan.

Enjoy complimentary beer\, wine\, a
nd hors d&rsquo\;oeuvres while you mingle with old friends and make new on
es. Tour our studios\, shops\, and computer labs. Help us make this a nigh
t to remember by spreading the word to your classmates and friends!

\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Admission is free for you and a guest over the age of
21. Please RSVP to Kyle Buckley at 203-576-4034 or kbuckley@bridgeport.ed
u.

Help support CancerCare'\;s free\, professional
services\, available to anyone facing a cancer diagnosis. Bringing togethe
r friends\, families\, and community members\, Walk/Run for Hope is Cancer
Care'\;s largest fundraising event. Join us as we walk or run
to celebrate survivors\, support those who are facing cancer and remember
those who we have lost.

The 2015 Connecticut
Mobile Summit is a mobile enterprise end user conference dedicated to peer
to peer exchange on the opportunities and challenges of mobility solution
s. Connecticut&rsquo\;s leading edge companies (emerging and established)
will share their experience implementing mobility solutions to improve pro
ductivity\, enhance revenue and provide better customer service. Whether y
our company is exploring mobility from a strategy\, operations\, marketing
or MIS perspective\, the 2015 Connecticut Mobile Summit is the premier ev
ent for mobile end user networking and education.

\n\n

Featur
ing a Keynote by &nbsp\;V. &nbsp\;James Onalfo\, Former Deputy Commissione
r and CIO at the NYPD

Go Red For Women&reg\; is the A
merican Heart Association'\;s movement to raise awareness and advocate
for more research so that women can live longer healthier lives\, free fro
m heart disease and stroke.&nbsp\; Each year across the country women atte
nd Go Red For Women Luncheons making heart health their No. 1 priority for
themselves\, their families and the women we love.&nbsp\; Join us for inf
ormative and fun day of activities.&nbsp\;

\n\n

At the Health &amp\; Wellness Exhibition (9:30 am to noon) you wi
ll have an opportunity to explore options that are available locally for y
ou to eat better\, move more\, stress less and look your best.&nbsp\;&nbsp
\; The Learning Sessions provide information about risk factors and effect
ive techniques for reducing them (check our website for updates https:/
/westfairgoredluncheon.ahaevents.org/ )

Go Red For Women&reg\; is the A
merican Heart Association'\;s movement to raise awareness and advocate
for more research so that women can live longer healthier lives\, free fro
m heart disease and stroke.&nbsp\; Each year across the country women atte
nd Go Red For Women Luncheons making heart health their No. 1 priority for
themselves\, their families and the women we love.&nbsp\; Join us for inf
ormative and fun day of activities.&nbsp\;

\n\n

At the Health &amp\; Wellness Exhibition (9:30 am to noon) you wi
ll have an opportunity to explore options that are available locally for y
ou to eat better\, move more\, stress less and look your best.&nbsp\;&nbsp
\; The Learning Sessions provide information about risk factors and effect
ive techniques for reducing them (check our website for updates https:/
/westfairgoredluncheon.ahaevents.org/ )

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

During the luncheo
n you will hear from our Keynote speaker the comedienne Jane Condon.&nbsp\
; Jane won Audience Favorite (NY) on NBC&rsquo\;s &ldquo\;Last Comic Stand
ing.&rdquo\; She has also appeared on the &ldquo\;The View\,&rdquo\; &ldqu
o\;24\,&rdquo\; and &ldquo\;The Today Show.&rdquo\; &nbsp\;&nbsp\;&ldquo\;
Jane Condon is that rarity among her fellows\, a comic whose material neve
r needs laundering.&rdquo\; &ndash\; The Wall Street Journal

New York City Architect and local gardener Frederick Bland e
xplores the garden he designed for his Stony Creek home on Friday\, May 8
at 7 p.m. at the Essex Town Hall. In &ldquo\;The Making of a Garden(er)\,
An Urbanist Architect in the Garden\,&rdquo\; he chronicles his developmen
t as both an internationally known architect and a local horticulturalist\
, and the connection between the two strivings.&nbsp\;

\n\n

A partner
in Beyer Blinder Belle and Chairman of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden\, Blan
d&rsquo\;s design portfolio includes: the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisvill
e\, Kentucky\, Minnesota&rsquo\;s St. Paul Union Depot\, and the Shanghai
Cultural Center in China. His Stony Creek garden was featured in the book
&ldquo\;Private Gardens of Connecticut.&rdquo\;

\n\n

Bland earned his
Master&rsquo\;s and Bachelor&rsquo\;s degrees in architecture at Yale Uni
versity\, and as a Commissioner on the New York City Landmarks Preservatio
n Commission he plays an active role in shaping the future of America&rsqu
o\;s largest metropolis. An adjunct professor in the Art History Departmen
t at New York University\, he also has served as a visiting lecturer at Co
lumbia University\, Yale University\, and Pratt Institute.

\n\n

His t
alk is free and part of the Centerbrook Architects Lecture Series\, which
is one of many programs that are offered regularly by the Essex Library (h
ttp://www.youressexlibrary.org/). Please call the library at (860) 767-156
0 to register. Sponsored by Centerbrook Architects\, the series is in its
seventh year.

Celebrating his 59th year in the music industry\, Johnny Mat
his is Columbia Records longest-running artist. A sublime vocalist whose a
pproach to pop music eclipses passing fads and trends\, Mathis has perform
ed songs in an incredible variety of styles and categories -- from music c
omposed for stage and film to golden era jazz standards\, contemporary pop
hits\, and holiday music\, all of which has assured his reputation as one
of the most enduring vocalists in music history.&nbsp\;

\n\n

Best-kn
own for his supremely popular hits like &ldquo\;Chances Are\,&quot\; &quot
\;It'\;s Not For Me To Say\,&quot\; and &quot\;Misty&rdquo\;\, Mathis h
as recorded more than 80 albums and has had 50 hits on Billboard&rsquo\;s
Adult Contemporary Chart. During his extensive career he has had 3 songs i
nducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame\, and in 2003 Mathis was given the Li
fetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Returning to Hartford\, CT for the first time in many years on May 8\, Mat
his comes to The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts to perform some o
f his greatest hits and personal favorites.

Artists are being invited to enter the Watertown Art League
Juried Art Show scheduled for May 8th thru May 22th&nbsp\; 2015 at the Mid
dlebury Library. The show will be in the Larkin Room of the newly renovate
d Middlebury Library at 30 Crest Road\, off route 188 in Middlebury CT. Ov
er $1200 in cash prizes will be presented\, including $400 for Best in Sho
w. Sorry\, no photography or sculpture will be accepted. Receiving will be
on Friday\,&nbsp\; May 8th from 2 to 4 pm\, and Saturday May 9th from 10
to 11 am\, at the Middlebury Library. An entry fee of $20 for members and
$25 for non-members will be charged to the artist for up to two pieces of
art work.

Join Jay Kaplan from Roaring Brook Nature Center for his ann
ual bird walk at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Jay will lead participants through t
he cemetery&rsquo\;s ornamental foreground in search of resident birds. Ap
propriate hiking shoes\, water and binoculars are strongly recommended. Me
et near the bridge along the entrance drive.&nbsp\;

With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques\, DAVID SEDA
RIS has become one of America&rsquo\;s preeminent humor writers. The great
skill with which he slices through cultural euphemisms &amp\; political c
orrectness proves that Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most o
bservant writers addressing the human condition today. Sedaris is the auth
or of the collections of personal essays Naked\, Me Talk Pretty One Day\,
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim\, When You Are Engulfed in Flames\
, &amp\; Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary\, all of which have be
come bestsellers. Sedaris&rsquo\;s pieces appear regularly in The New York
er &amp\; have twice been included in &ldquo\;The Best American Essays.&rd
quo\; His latest book entitled Let&rsquo\;s Explore Diabetes with Owls was
just released in paperback June 2014. DAVID SEDARIS will appear for one n
ight only\, featuring all-new readings of his work &amp\; a book signing.<
/p>\n\n\nPhone: 860-987-5900\n\n166 Capitol Ave\nHartford\, CT\n06106\n\n
DTSTART:20150515T200000
DTEND:20150515T230000
LOCATION:Mortensen Hall
PRIORITY:
SUMMARY:An Evening With David Sedaris
URL:http://bushnell.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:19087_20@www.connecticutmag.com
DTSTAMP:20150303T200325Z
CATEGORIES:FAMILY,MUSIC
DESCRIPTION:

Demonstration and lectu
res on Cico Luchini and the art of mould-and cast-making\, from 19th centu
ry to today.&nbsp\;

\n\n

Present
ers include Alan Wallach\, Ralph H. Wark Professor of Art and Art History
at the College of William and Mary and author of Exhibiting Contradiction\
, Essays on the Art Museum in the United States and Robert Shure\, acclaim
ed sculptor and cast-conservator.

It&rsq
uo\;s a zoo in here! Grab a pair of binoculars and look out for a bucking
bronco\, beguiling bear\, bedazzled buck\, and meditative monkey. Learn ho
w artists use different materials to bring the natural world to life in 3D
\, and then set up camp in the studio\, where you&rsquo\;ll design a wild\
, whiskered\, or woolly animal bench inspired by our artist bench collecti
on.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Third Monday of every month\,

\n\n

Oct.-May 9-11 a.m.

\n\n

(N
o charge for accompanying adults and children under 5)

\n\n

Homeschool Days are learning experiences designed exclusively for homescho
ol families. Join us before the Museum opens to the public to explore the
galleries with one of our knowledgeable docents. Each dynamic\, interactiv
e tour will end in our bright and spacious Art Studio\, where students wil
l engage in a hands-on project related to the theme of the day. Homeschool
Days are designed with a school aged audience in mind\, and families with
young children are encouraged to make use of books\, games\, and self-gui
ded art projects in the Family ArtLab while registered students take part
in the day&rsquo\;s activities. Space is limited to 30 students\, and pre-
registration is required. Payment is due at time of preregistration.

\n

To pre-register or for more information\, please contact Katy\, Coordin
ator of School &amp\; Family Programs\, at matsuzakik@nbmaa.org or (860) 2
29-0257\, ext. 220.

It&rsquo\;s a zoo in here! Grab a pair of binoculars and loo
k out for a bucking bronco\, beguiling bear\, bedazzled buck\, and meditat
ive monkey. Learn how artists use different materials to bring the natural
world to life in 3D\, and then set up camp in the studio\, where you&rsqu
o\;ll design a wild\, whiskered\, or woolly animal bench inspired by our a
rtist bench collection.

\n\n

$8 per child/Members $10 per
child/non-Members

\n\n

(No charge for accompanying
adults and children under 5)

\n\n

Homeschool Days are learni
ng experiences designed exclusively for homeschool families. Join us befor
e the Museum opens to the public to explore the galleries with one of our
knowledgeable docents. Each dynamic\, interactive tour will end in our bri
ght and spacious Art Studio\, where students will engage in a hands-on pro
ject related to the theme of the day. Homeschool Days are designed with a
school aged audience in mind\, and families with young children are encour
aged to make use of books\, games\, and self-guided art projects in the Fa
mily ArtLab while registered students take part in the day&rsquo\;s activi
ties. Space is limited to 30 students\, and pre-registration is required.
Payment is due at time of preregistration. To pre-register or for more inf
ormation\, please contact Katy\, Coordinator of School &amp\; Family Progr
ams\, at matsuzakik@nbmaa.org or (860) 229-0257\, ext. 220.

Bit by bit\, the ravages of age are eroding Marina'\;s gr
ip on the everyday. An elderly Russian woman now living in America\, she c
annot hold on to fresh memories&mdash\;the details of her grown children
39\;s lives\, the approaching wedding of her grandchild&mdash\;yet her dis
tant past is miraculously preserved in her mind'\;s eye.

\n\n

&nbs
p\;

\n\n

Vivid images of her youth in war-torn Leningrad arise unbidd
en\, carrying her back to the terrible fall of 1941\, when she was a tour
guide at the Hermitage Museum and the German army'\;s approach signaled
the beginning of what would be a long\, torturous siege on the city. As t
he people braved starvation\, bitter cold\, and a relentless German onslau
ght\, Marina joined other staff members in removing the museum'\;s pric
eless masterpieces for safekeeping\, leaving the frames hanging empty on t
he walls to symbolize the artworks'\; eventual return. As the Luftwaffe
'\;s bombs pounded the proud\, stricken city\, Marina built a personal
Hermitage in her mind&mdash\;a refuge that would stay buried deep within h
er\, until she needed it once more.

Wind down after work with a 40-min. show and a glass of a wi
ne. Explore Bach&rsquo\;s &ldquo\;Goldberg Variations for String Trio&rdqu
o\; (performed by Netta Hadari\, Tina Lee Hadari and Philip Boulanger) in
a relaxed setting\, and discover what makes&nbsp\; the music brilliant. Mu
sic Haven 117 Whalley Ave.\, New Haven\, CT Admission: $8 ($5 students/sen
iors)

Chamber Music @ Christ Church presents:&nbsp\; &nbsp\; &quot
\;The Life of Orpheus&quot\; &nbsp\; Jesse N. Glaude
\, Organist &nbsp\; Join organist&nbsp\;and&nbsp\;director of Christ C
hurch School of the Arts\, Jesse Nathan Glaude\, on&nbsp\;Sunday\, May 24t
h at 3pm&nbsp\;for a program featuring an improvised &quot\;Symphony&quot\
; on the dramatic life of mythological Greek poet and musician\, Orpheus\,
at Christ Episcopal Church\, Norwich CT. &nbsp\; &nbsp\; Don'\;t miss
this one of a kind program as Mr. Glaude improvises on episodes of a legen
dary\, beautiful and tragic life! &nbsp\; &nbsp\; &nbsp\; Admission is FRE
E! &nbsp\;Donations may be made to help support the series. &nbsp\;A champ
agne reception will follow the program and audience members will have the
opportunity to chat with Mr. Glaude and get a &quot\;tour&quot\;of the Chr
ist Church sanctuary organ. &nbsp\;For more information:&nbsp\;860.425.066
3&nbsp\;or&nbsp\;www.ccsarts.org. &nbsp\; &nbsp\; &nbsp\;

Winner of eight 2012 Tony Awards&reg\; including BEST MUSICA
L\, ONCE is a truly original Broadway experience.

\n\n

Featuring an i
mpressive ensemble of actor/musicians who play their own instruments onsta
ge\, ONCE tells the enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician who'\;s
about to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden
interest in his haunting love songs. As the chemistry between them grows\
, his music soars to powerful new heights... but their unlikely connection
turns out to be deeper and more complex than your everyday romance.

\n

Emotionally captivating and theatrically breathtaking\, ONCE draws you
in from the very first note and never lets go. It'\;s an unforgettable
story about going for your dreams and the power of music to connect us all
.

Milford\, CT&mdash\;
February 24\, 2015.&nbsp\; The 40th Annual Dan &amp\; Yolanda Adley Memori
al Golf Tournament to benefit Boys &amp\; Girls Village\, Inc. will be hel
d at Race Book Country Club\, Orange\, CT\, on Monday\, June 1\, 2015. The
event is Sponsored In-Part by BIC\, and Honorary Title Sponsor is the Vil
lage Foundation.&nbsp\; As a key fundraising event\, proceeds will benefit
the at-risk children and families of Boys &amp\; Girls Village (BGV). Cli
ents are served through an array of programs in both their Milford and Bri
dgeport locations. This year marks a significant anniversary - 40 years -
of this time-honored event. To think\, in 1975\, just a handful of golfers
participated in the very first tournament\, raising awareness and a whopp
ing $1\,000.00. Last year&rsquo\;s sold out tournament was attended by 144
golfers\, and raised over $76\,000\, thanks to the support of our dedicat
ed businesses and sponsors.&nbsp\; To date\, this Tournament has raised ov
er one million dollars to support the various program and needs of at-risk
children and families served.&nbsp\;

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Each year\, sponsors and
guests join together for a day of fun and festivities to benefit BGV. The
40th Annual Dan &amp\; Yolanda Adley Memorial Golf Tournament begins with
a day of golf\, complete with lunch\, player gifts and prizes\, followed
by a spectacular dinner reception complemented by a live auction and raffl
es. One lucky golfer may even take home a brand new vehicle\, compliments
of our Hole-In-One Sponsor.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

The BGV Board of Directors has bee
n faithfully served by four generations of the Adley family. They continue
to dedicate their time to the Tournament\, as well. &ldquo\;In the first
few years of the Tournament\, it was more about creating awareness\,&rsquo
\; shared Kevin Hart\, President of the Village Foundation and this year&r
squo\;s Event Co-Chair. Event Chair and granddaughter of Dan &amp\; Yoland
a\, Gina Hart adds\, &ldquo\;Throughout the past 39 years\, this event &nd
ash\; named in honor of my grandparents &ndash\; has become a key fundrais
er for BGV.&rdquo\;

\n\n

For 73 years\,
Boys &amp\; Girls Village\, Inc. has been one of Connecticut&rsquo\;s lead
ing providers of behavioral health\, educational and permanency planning s
ervices for at-risk youth and their families.&nbsp\; Since its founding\,
Boys &amp\; Girls Village has touched the lives of thousands of children a
nd families from 50 different Connecticut communities\, providing a wide r
ange of family-centered services and evidenced-based treatment approaches
that helped children heal\, learn and grow.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

For player registr
ation\, sponsorship information\, or to donate a raffle or auction item\,
please contact Marie Pelaccia at pelacciam@bgvillage.org or Alecia
Pianello at pianelloa@bgvillage.org\, or call (203) 877-0300 x 101.

An exploration of music and art with &nbsp\;the Haven String
Quartet and Jessica Sack\,&nbsp\; the Jan and Frederick Mayer Senior Asso
ciate Curator of Public Education at Yale University. Explore how combinin
g sound and sight can enhance what you see and hear. Featuring live music\
, this talk connects close listening to music with close looking at art. Y
ale University Art Gallery 1111 Chapel St.\, New Haven\, CT Admission: Fre
e &nbsp\;

Dixieland Jazz Coming to Sacred Music at the Red Door
The Hot Cat Jazz Band will have you tapping your toes to the music.
&nbsp\;\n&nbsp\;\nWEST HARTFORD &ndash\; Ready for some toe-ta
pping fun?\n&nbsp\;\nOn Friday\, June 5\, Sacred Music at the
Red Door will present a concert by the Hot Cat Jazz Band.\n&nbsp\;\nThe concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. at St. John&rsquo\;s Episco
pal Church in West Hartford. Admission is free\, but there is a suggested
donation of $20.\n&nbsp\;\nCome on out for an evening of Dixie
land jazz and enjoy the marvelous acoustics of St. John&rsquo\;s Church. S
tandards\, old-time hymns\, and toe-tapping fun abound.\n&nbsp\;\nThe Hot Cat Jazz Band was founded in 1990 by Wethersfield trumpeter Ro
ss Tucker\, and has a huge repertoire of jazz that is performed at parties
\, events\, and worship services. The Hot Cats pride themselves in present
ing a very wide range of styles to please all ages.\n&nbsp\;\n
Their repertoire includes Swing standards of George Gershwin\, Cole Porter
and Duke Ellington. They also perform Big Band hits of Benny Goodman\, Gl
enn Miller and Tommy Dorsey\, popular songs from the 1920&rsquo\;s\, hymns
and worship songs\, and &nbsp\;New Orleans Dixieland favorites.\n&n
bsp\;\nFor more information about this and other upcoming concerts\,
please visit www.reddoormusic.org\, call 860-523-5201\, or e-mail music@s
jparish.net.\n&nbsp\;\nSacred Music at the Red Door\, St. John
&rsquo\;s Episcopal Church&rsquo\;s gift to the community of West Hartford
\, will present this final concert for the 2014-15 season. The series has
helped to establish St. John&rsquo\;s as a destination for those seeking m
usical refreshment and excellence\, drawing on the existing strengths of t
he choirs and guest artists\, architecture\, organ\, location\, and Anglic
an heritage.\nSt. John&rsquo\;s Episcopal Church is located at 679 F
armington Ave.\, near Prospect Street\, in West Hartford. The church is wh
eelchair accessible and has ample free parking. St. John&rsquo\;s Episcopa
l Church is a vibrant parish which comes together in beauty and grace to c
elebrate and share the gifts of God. We strive\, with God&rsquo\;s help\,
to listen\, connect\, serve\, and grow. At St. John&rsquo\;s\, we seek to
create and offer exciting opportunities to make spiritual connections with
God and with one another. That offer is made to both members and visitors
alike. The clergy and lay leadership of St. John&rsquo\;s hopes that thos
e connections will be meaningful and lasting for each and every one of us.
\n&nbsp\;\nFor more information\, or to schedule an interview\
, contact Scott Lamlein at music@sjparish.net or by calling 860-523-5201 x
322.

Celebrate the accomplishments of our 80 &nbsp\;promising you
ng students! Performances by&nbsp\; Music Haven students and their teacher
s\, the Haven String Quartet and pianist Miki Sawada\,&nbsp\; are followed
by a potluck feast. Bring your instrument and join us onstage for the &ld
quo\;Project YOURchestra&rdquo\; finale! Charles Garner Recital Hall South
ern Connecticut State University Engleman C112\, 501 Crescent St.\, New Ha
ven\, CT Admission: Free\; please bring a dish to share at the potluck rec
eption immediately following the concert.

The largest community tennis tournament in New England is here in CT. &nbsp\;The Wint Filipek Sr. Memorial Tennis Tournament is
scheduled for June 6-14th.&nbsp\; &nbsp\;Our host site is the Copper Va
lley Swim &amp\; Tennis Club\, Cheshire\, CT.&nbsp\; It
is a wonderful site to celebrate the 11th anniversary of our tournament.&n
bsp\; We have also partnered with Cheshire Academy and the Cheshire Park &
amp\; Recreation Department.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

This is a non-profit event.&nbsp\; All proceeds benefit the Winton
S. Filipek Sr. Scholarship Fund\, Inc.\, which has donated $87\,550 to our
communities from this event.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

Players receive a tournament t-shirt.&nbsp\; Tennis balls &amp\; water pr
ovided for every match.&nbsp\; Prizes awarded to 1st &amp\; 2nd &nbsp\;in
every division.&nbsp\; Entry fees are ONLY $20 Singles/$30 per doubles
team/$15 for high school divisions.

Tree expert John Kehoe leads this 2-mile walk featuring Ceda
r Hill Cemetery&rsquo\;s rare and notable trees. The tour\, through the or
namental foreground and historic memorial sections\, will highlight trees
such as the beautiful European Weeping Beech\, the unusual (for the Northe
ast) Umbrella Magnolia and the Huss Hemlock named for a resident of Cedar
Hill.

An exploration of music and art with &nbsp\;the Haven String
Quartet and Jessica Sack\,&nbsp\; the Jan and Frederick Mayer Senior Asso
ciate Curator of Public Education at Yale University. Explore how combinin
g sound and sight can enhance what you see and hear. Featuring live music\
, this talk connects close listening to music with close looking at art. Y
ale University Art Gallery 1111 Chapel St.\, New Haven\, CT Admission: Fre
e &nbsp\;

Join us for the fourth annual United Way Women&rsquo\;s Lead
ership Council&rsquo\;s Power of the Purse Luncheon and Silent Auction
on Wednesday\, June 10th at the Connecticut Convention Center. More
than 200 unique purses\, handbags\, clutches\, and totes for women and men
will be up for bid in the silent auction. A networking luncheon will foll
ow with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists and husband and wife team Nicho
las Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn\, authors of Half the Sky and the n
ewly released A Path Appears. Proceeds benefit local women and fa
milies on the road to financial security. For more information and to purc
hase tickets\, visit unitedwayinc.org/pop15.&nbsp\;

Mayhem\, murder and the hazards of everyday life in times go
ne by are the subjects of this Cedar Hill Cemetery tour led by Evelyn Boll
ert. Transportation with a mind of its own\, constricting corsets\, explod
ing boilers\, odorless gases\, melancholia\, mysticism\, mysteries and mor
e &ndash\; Cedar Hill&rsquo\;s denizens tell us tales of the dangers of da
ily living in the late-19th and early-20th centuries.

The 2015 Thames River Art &amp\; Craft Show\, will be held o
n the BEAUTIFUL Mitchell College campus\, Saturday June 27th &amp\; Sunday
June 28th! With an amazing view of the Thames river as a backdrop\, guest
s will be able to peruse some of this areas best hand made goods! The show
will feature artists from all over New England and will include indoor an
d outdoor artisan booths as well as some FANTASTIC eats\, to delight your
senses!

This program helps caregivers and young children discover
art together in the Museum. Listen to a story and then explore line\, sha
pe\, color\, and other elements of art with teaching artist Margaret Freed
man. Margaret has a Master&rsquo\;s degree in Elementary Education and tea
ches at the Noah Webster House\, here at the New Britain Museum of America
n Art\, and in pre-K through 8th grade classrooms of the Waterbury School
District. She combines literacy with various artistic media and develops i
nnovative programs that enhance the young child&rsquo\;s experience here a
t the Museum.

\n\n

&nbsp\;

\n\n

If you have any questions or wan
t to sign up\, contact Katy Matsuzaki at matsuzakik@nbmaa.org or at (860)
229-0257\, ext. 220.

This program helps caregivers and young children discover ar
t together in the Museum. Listen to a story and then explore line\, shape\
, color\, and other elements of art with teaching artist Margaret Freedman
. Margaret has a Master&rsquo\;s degree in Elementary Education and teache
s at the Noah Webster House\, here at the New Britain Museum of American A
rt\, and in pre-K through 8th grade classrooms of the Waterbury School Dis
trict. She combines literacy with various artistic media and develops inno
vative programs that enhance the young child&rsquo\;s experience here at t
he Museum.

This crackling new drama by Pulitzer Prize-winner Donald Mar
gulies focuses on Sarah\, a photojournalist\, and James\, a foreign corres
pondent and Sarah'\;s long-term boyfriend. Sarah has just returned to t
heir apartment in Brooklyn after being injured covering a war zone. James\
, meanwhile\, is riddled with guilt for having left Sarah alone. Theirs is
a partnership based on telling the toughest stories\, and together\, maki
ng a difference. But when their own story takes a sudden turn\, the advent
urous couple confronts the uncertain prospect of a more conventional life.
Smart\, stylish\, and timely TIME STANDS STILL will inspire much discussi
on well after the curtain comes down.

A Great Way to Kill an Evenin
g&hellip\; Join us for this enormously entertaining evening as &ldquo\;Unc
le Franco&rdquo\;\, the most notorious mobster is set to open his new nigh
tclub &lsquo\;My Way&rsquo\; aboard the luxury yacht the Mystique.&nbsp\;<
/strong> &nbsp\; Franco has invited a laundry list of guests to hi
s grand celebration including his Godfather. Tables are set for a culinary
feast but\, one of the guests is&hellip\; dead&hellip\;and someone on boa
rd is a murderer. Who dun it? No doubt you&rsquo\;ll recognize the family
members and relate to their motives. Guests are encouraged to dress ready
to play the role of a gangster\, movie star\, politician or friend to the
well-respected Uncle Franco.&nbsp\; &nbsp\; This may be t
he chance to live out your ultimate fantasy!&rsquo\; &nbsp\; www.AspenDreamProductions.com

In this walking tour\, Hartford researcher Mary A. Falvey sh
ares the stories of Cedar Hill Cemetery residents and veterans after the e
nd of the Civil War &ndash\; those who made Hartford great\, those who cha
nged society\, and those who were left to remember\, honor and mourn.

While Samuel Clemens\, a.k.a. Mark Twain\, is laid to rest i
n Elmira\, New York\, many of his Hartford companions and cohorts are inte
rred at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Learn about Twain'\;s life and his many No
ok Farm friends\, neighbors and colleagues during this tour led by popular
guide Steve Courtney.

Elaine Kuzmeskus\, nationally recognized Spiritualist medium
and author of Dream Zone and The Art of Mediumship\, will discus
s dream interpretation\, psychic events and spirit communication. Followin
g her presentation\, she will provide readings for selected members of the
audience (chosen by lottery). Reservations required. Call (860) 956-3311
to register.

Join us for a tour through the historic memorial grounds fea
turing some of Cedar Hill Cemetery&rsquo\;s most notable residents and mon
uments. Highlights include the monuments of General Griffin Stedman\, Kath
arine Hepburn and Mark Howard. Participants will enjoy watching the sun se
t over Cedar Mountain during the walk.

Join gubernatorial researcher Patrick Haggerty on a tour of
state governors interred at Cedar Hill Cemetery. You will be introduced to
individuals that have held the state&rsquo\;s highest office and be treat
ed to stories about their lives\, times and accomplishments.

From the Goodwins to Colts\, Keneys and Popes\, Cedar Hill C
emetery is the final resting place for many of the namesakes of Hartford&r
squo\;s landmarks. Explore the connections between these prominent residen
ts and the cemetery in this tour led by former Cedar Hill staff member Mel
lissa Craig.

Another Cedar Hill mystery has developed and we need your he
lp. Teams of up to four people each compete to find and follow clues throu
ghout the memorial grounds. Once teams have collected all their clues\, it
&rsquo\;s time to solve the mystery. It&rsquo\;s a race to the finish\, as
prizes will be awarded to teams who solve the mystery the fastest. Reserv
ations required. Call (860) 956-3311 to register your team.

From the author of Lend Me a Tenor and Moon Ove
r Buffalo comes LEADING LADIES\, an outrageous new comedy. Jack and L
eo are two English Shakespearean actors who are so down on their luck\, th
ey are reduced to performing &quot\;Scenes from Shakespeare&quot\; on the
Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. But when they he
ar that an old lady in York\, PA is about to die and leave her fortune to
her two long lost English nephews\, they resolve to pass themselves off as
her beloved relatives and get the cash. The trouble is\, when they get to
York\, they find out that the relatives aren'\;t nephews\, but nieces
and\, in the tradition of any Ken Ludwig farce\, absolute hilarity ensues.

The Simsbury Woman'\;s Club'\;s 46th annual Arts and C
rafts Festival will be held September 19 &amp\; 20 on Iron Horse Blvd in b
eautiful downtown Simsbury.&nbsp\; There will be over 100 juried arts and
crafts persons selling a broad selection of high quality items.&nbsp\; The
outdoor market will be open 10AM to 5PM both days\, and parking and admis
sion to the event are free.

The Shoreline Quilting Guild will be holding their 2015 quil
t show October 3\, 10am-4pm and October 4\, 10am-3pm at the Madison Senior
Center\, 29 Bradley Road\, Madison\,CT.&nbsp\; Admission is $8.00 and 12
and under is free.&nbsp\; Free Rotary cutter sleeve with every paid admiss
ion!

Learn about the lives and accomplishments of some of Cedar H
ill&rsquo\;s noteworthy artists. Debbie Alter leads this tour focusing on
the cemetery&rsquo\;s creative residents including William Glackens\, Albe
rt Entress and Katharine Seymour Day.&nbsp\;

Halloween 2015 brings an
unusual twist to a class reunion. For most people\, an alumni reunion is
a time to party and renew old acquaintances\, but Franco Machiavelli isn
39\;t an ordinary guy --- he'\;s the head of the New York crime family\
, and trouble seems to follow him everywhere he goes. &nbsp\;As he begins
to renew old friendships\, someone is murdered.&nbsp\; Discovering who the
killer is becomes the question all are determined to answer.

\n\n

&nbsp\;There is lots of murder\, bribery\, and back stabbi
ng on this Class Reunion Cruise as we meet Hugh Jass\, Class Politician\,
&ldquo\;Wedgie&rdquo\;\, Pom Pom Splits\, and the rest of the gang.&nbsp\;

\n\n

Enjoy a ghoulish experience on the water while
MYSTERY and MAYHEM LURK all around you and even INVOLVE YOU!&nbsp\;&nbsp\
;

Join us for the only night Cedar Hill Cemetery is open to th
e public after dark. Led by lantern light\, attendees will visit the final
resting places of some of Cedar Hill&rsquo\;s notable and not-so-notable
residents. Character actors will share their true-yet-darker-tales. Admiss
ion: $15.00. To ensure your participation in this tour\, reservati
ons are required for specific time slots. Book your reservations
early by calling 860-956-3311. Please note: This tour may
NOT be suitable for children under 13.&nbsp\;Wear appropriate walking sho
es and bring a flashlight.

Gillian Holroyd is a sensual\, free spirited gal\, restless
in life and unlucky in love. She also happens to be a witch. When she lear
ns that her handsome neighbor\, Shep Henderson\, is engaged to her old col
lege rival\, she uses every trick in the book to stop the wedding. But whe
n\, in the midst of her magical maneuvering\, she finds herself falling fo
r him\, she'\;s left with a difficult choice: you see\, witches who fal
l in love lose their powers. But perhaps love still has a trick or two up
its own sleeve in this delectable and delightful romantic romp. BELL\, BOO
K &amp\; CANDLE was the inspiration for classic film of the same name star
ring James Stewart\, Kim Novak\, and Jack Lemon.

With the Ho
liday Season well on its way\, everyone in the notorious Uncle Franco&rsqu
o\;s mobster family is working hard to make this a holiday to remember. Th
ey are taking a cruise to &ldquo\;discuss business matters on open waters&
rdquo\;.

\n\n

Desperate for a change\, there are man
y who are willing to do almost anything to increase efficiency and restore
peace to &ldquo\;the family&rdquo\;. &nbsp\;But only one
who will go too far and commit an act of murder in Don Franco&rsquo\;s ne
ighborhood.Everyone is a suspect\, including you.

\n\n

To ensure the holiday legacy continues unchanged\, yo
u will be called upon to employ your sleuthing skills to make certain that
the criminal is caught! Enjoy dinner\, dancing\, and lots of live holiday
music.